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Substantial work has started to earthquake-strengthen the 104 year old building. The floorboards have been removed from the main auditorium and a digger has been inside the hall to excavate channels for new concrete support beams.
The ceiling, walls and upstairs balcony have also been removed.
Site manager Shannon Arnold says the majority of the wood has been salvaged and will be reinstalled later this year.
“A lot of the materials are in good condition considering much of it is over 100 years old,” he says. “We have had to throw out some wood which has rotted, but when the wood is reinstalled it should look exactly the same as before the restoration work.”
Shannon says they are working to complete the work before next June.
Stage One, which involves restoration and strengthening, is expected to finish in April. Stage two includes building a gallery foyer area and is expected to take five weeks to complete.
Stage three involves an extension of the foyer, but won’t start until further funding can be raised.
Meanwhile, The Damage is playing at the Bridgehouse on August 22 from 8.30pm to fundraise for the hall. Mike Pero has sponsored the event.
Last month the Warkworth Town Hall Restoration Trust Fundraising Team raised $500 at a Susanne Morning ‘Refined’ Image and Style Evening held at Chocolate Brown in Warkworth.
The ‘Refined’ Shawl and Jewellery Raffle winner was Snells Beach resident Janet Pickering.
