Bullyard Hall, Sports and Recreation Club secretary Wendi Guy shares the details of why it’s a wonderful community hub.

Tell us about the organisation?

The Bullyard Hall, Sports and Recreation Club Inc has been fully active for four years now, after it nearly went into remission, with a new committee running the hall.

Since then, we have held annual car rallies, rock 'n' roll dance night, monthly markets, Santa fair, family days and music concerts.

We recently had a brand-new kitchen put in, solar power, new wiring in the hall, two new water tanks/pumps and irrigation installed.

We also host the annual mower races and the remote-control racing cars events.

What’s the history of Bullyard Hall, Sports and Recreation Club?

Bullyard Hall was built in 1908 by Samuel Kent on 10 acres of land purchased for that purpose.

It was connected to electricity in 1952 and the hall was extended in 1957 with a bigger dance floor.

Other additions included a stage, kitchen and ladies' room.

The hall was repainted in the 1960s with linseed oil and burnt umber - giving it a distinctive appearance.

The hall was, like other local public halls, used for social events such as dances.

Movies were shown at the hall from the 1920s and it was also used for church services.

Newspaper references from the 1930s through to the 1950s indicate the hall being used as a venue to sign up workers for the local cane crushing season.

The grounds were also used for a range of sporting events.

There are references to athletics competitions held at Bullyard from 1911 and the track was improved in 1913.

A tennis club was formed in 1928 and tennis courts were constructed using crushed ant bed.

Cricket was popular, so much so that the cricket club merged with the hall committee in 1930.

Bullyard hosted cricket matches against local teams including Wallaville, Albionville, Gin Gin, Bucca and Bundaberg and the pitch was also constructed from ant bed, similar to the tennis courts.

Bullyard Hall is located in the south-western corner of a four hectare reserve that, in turn, is located in the northern part of town on the eastern side of Bucca Road.

A mostly circular fenced sports ground extends from the hall to the north and east.

Most of the fenced, predominantly levelled grassed site has been cleared, some remaining scrub vegetation exists in the north and northeast and on the boundaries and it appears that the ring of trees on the perimeter of the sports ground have been deliberately planted.

Why is the group important to the Bundaberg Region?

It provides a great location for large events in the oval, as it is located close to several towns.

It is a beautiful location.

How can the community be involved?

We encourage the locals to come along and join our group as it is their hall.

It caters for many functions and events throughout the year.

We are always looking for volunteers to help run the canteen at our monthly markets and help out at our events we hold.

What significant event is held during the year?

We hold a family day Halloween Party every year in October.

This has always been a great success, especially our haunted house.

Lots of games, dancing with a live DJ and prizes for the kids. It's a traditional fancy dress as well.

What are some of the plans for the future?

To hold a 70s disco night fundraiser, more car rallies, fancy dress events, dinner nights.

When and where do you meet?

We meet every second month at the hall at 6 pm for a committee meeting at 7 pm for a general meeting since February.