The web site of the National Library - Papers Past searches issues of the Evening Post from 1865 to 1945 and the search for Masonic Hall, Island Bay produced a fascinating mix of functions particularly in the 1930s and 1940s.  Many of the dances held at the Hall were sponsored by the sports’ clubs of the district. The Ladies’ Committee of  the Island Bay Football Club advertised a plain and fancy dress dance  from 7 – 10 pm  and the Surf Club held an opening Dance in 1926. In 1929 their second annual dance stated sub 2/6 and a late bus.  In 1927 the Surf Club organised a ‘hard-up social’ for the Eastern Queen in a Queen carnival to raise funds to enlarge their club house.  In 1931 it was ‘a flannel dance and beach games’ and in 1933 the music was provided by ‘The Unemployed Band!’  The Bowling Club and the Tennis Club often held dances to mark the opening or the closing of their seasons.

Another Queen Carnival, in 1935, was in aid of the Berhampore Free Kindergarten and the theme of their dance was ‘Once in a Blue Moon.’ Island Bay School Old Scholars had dances to fund travel for basketball (nowadays netball) teams and rep players in 1934 and 1935.  There were Plunket Dances reported in 1936, 1937 and 1938 at one of which Nurse Helen Beckett (the Plunket Nurse) was farewelled.  The Island Bay Returned Soldiers Auxiliary reported in 1935 that their fortnightly dance held in the Masonic Hall is now very favourably established as one of the district’s social events.

One dance reported on May 9, 1936 noted the Italian community in Wellington last night celebrated the capture of Addis Ababa by Italian forces. It was the first gathering of such a nature in the Dominion and there was great rejoicing.  Italian wine flowed freely and with dancing, songs and hakas by a Maori band, the attendance of about 200 spent a happy evening. The next excerpt to appear headed ‘Untitled,’ on May 12. commented on  the Post stating that Italian wine flowed freely  at the celebration… The custodian advised that very little wine was consumed – the actual amount being five bottles among 200 people. The statement was incorrect and misleading.

During the Depression years of the early 1930s there were reports of an Island Bay Relief Committee Concert raising £17.10 and asking for supplies of provisions, vegetables and clothing to be left at the Relief Depot next to the Post Office. (Relief workers were paid a small allowance by the Government for working on various schemes around the district.)  The Island Bay Municipal Association held a benefit Concert in aid of Free Ambulance funds in 1933 when there was also a merry Revue presented before a large audience in the Hall in aid of the City Mission. There was a Community Sing advertised for ‘those in need’ in winter 1934.

There were many political meetings for both government and civic elections – government ones reported in 1935 (when Walter Nash spoke) and 1938 and civic ones in 1941 and 1944.  In 1932 the friendly Society advertised a Lantern Lecture featuring Scott’s Dash to the Pole with photos on screen. The proceeds from this event were for the Mayor’s Unemployment Fund

The wreck of The Progress in Ohiro Bay in 1931 made a huge impact on the community and several related events were held in the Hall. The Cook Strait Fishermen’s Association held a concert  - Fishermen’s Aid – to raise funds for a widow and her son in 1931. In 1932 there was a ceremony - Recognitions of Gallantry at the time of the wreck of The Progress as well as the presentation of Awards to rescuers by  the Royal Humane Society. Local Police Constable F A H Baker received one of the medals at this function.

Constable Baker was farewelled from Island Bay after 14 years’ service at a function in 1936. The Anglican Vicar, Rev. J G Calvert Blathwayt, was farewelled in 1937.  In 1937 also the Island Bay Ministers’ Association organised a Citizen’s Service of Thanksgiving at the time of the Coronation of King George VI.

The League of Mothers met monthly at the Hall and was well-reported over the years 1936 – 1938.  It appears that a crèche was set up in nearby St Hilda’s Hall and it was carefully reported at one meeting that they sang two verses of the National Anthem!  Some of these ladies would have been involved in The Island Bay Nursing Division of the St John Ambulance brigade which gave a demonstration in the Hall in 1944.

There were, in many of these early years, two horticultural shows each year.  The first one was held in combination with St Thomas’s, Newtown and then, in 1932 the Wellington South Horticultural Society Flower Show with special prizes for vegetables grown by relief workers, was held. Later there were spring and autumn shows each year. 

There are several reports of events involving children:  piano recitals (1925 and 1929); school concerts - Chilton House (1928); school prize-giving’s – St Madeleine Sophie’s (1930); Baptist Sunday School picnic (1926); Plunket Children’s Christmas Party (1925); Island Bay School Concert and Farewell to the headmaster, Mr O J  Howarth (1938);  Baptist Sunday School, Alice in Wonderland in aid of the earthquake fund (1931); Methodist School Children’s Playette – Princess Rosebud’s Dream (1934).

In the 1950s, the hall continued to be used for local events –there were  many wedding receptions and dances – but as people became more mobile and went to dances further afield  and as venues like the Surf  Club Hall became available locally, its use diminished.  It was still in use as a Hall in the 1970s with the Wellington City Council listing repairs to be made before a  Public Hall Licence was issued. At one stage the Hall was hired on a 12 months’ trial basis by Island Bay businessman Silvio Famularo for use as a Music Hall with about 20 functions. There were other uses but eventually in the mid-1980s it was sold and became a private dwelling.