Amenities
Laying the Foundation Stone
The foundation stone for the Belvidere Memorial Hall was laid on Saturday April 30, 1921.
"The Southern Argus" report on the 5th May 1921 recorded the event.
At 2.30 the crowd gathered in front of the building where a platform had been erected upon which the chairman of the hall committee (Mr. John Cheriton), Brigadier General Leane and the Rev Captain T.P. Wood took their seats.....
The Chairman then called upon General Leane to lay the foundation stone. Having declared the stone truly laid the speaker who was heartily cheered said it was aleays a pleasure for him to be present and take part in a gathering such as that.
The Building
The stone used of the foundations came from the creek in front of the Gas Works in Strathalbyn. Horses were used to drag the stones out and three stones made a wagon load. The corner stones of the building measures 3 feet by 4 feet.
The building was a team effort Mel Stanton and Clarrie Harding for the stone work, Jim Kennedy for the timber abd iron while Harold Stowe and his father painted the hall. Mr Field an architect from Port Elliot inspected the site four times.
Opening of Hall
The opening ceremony was performed by Captain H.S. Hudd MC JP in the presence of a big crowd. He expressed admiration for the splendid tribute that the Belvidere people had erected to the honour of their boys and had the greatest possible pleasure in declaring the fine hall open.
In the evening the hall was packed when a fine programme under the supervision of Mesdames Lellman and Rita McNamara was carried out.
Proior to the opening of the hall enough money was raised to cover the building costs but trustees had to borrow £400 to buy the piano, hall furniture, erect the front fence and toilets.
