SULLIVAN HALL is soon to celebrate 60 years and its supporters are calling for memories, photos and any information about the building.

The hall’s doors will be opened for a celebration of its durability and significance to the community, and many of the figures who played a key part in its construction, fundraising and use over 60 years will be along.

Long term White Gum Valley resident Roy Lewisson says the valley is a tight-knit community, and the hall is its hub.

• Built by the community, Sullivan Hall has one of the best dance floors around.

The construction itself was a community project: Back in 1958 a parents group were calling for a hall.

The council allocated a patch of land on the corner of Nannine Avenue and Stevens Street, and residents set about gathering materials (the State Heritage Office report says “the main frame is believed by locals to be a reused army shed”). Valley residents were levied 25 shillings a week to pay for it. It opened as a scout hall in 1959 and had many other community uses over the years.

White Gum Valley Square Dance Club started holding events there in the early 1960s, as the sprung floor is ideal for dancing. The square dancers are credited with a lot of the maintenance of the hall over the years.

• Square dancing was huge during the 1970s.

Many other groups would follow including yoga, tai chi and karate classes. The hall was also long term neighbours with the Fremantle Pigeon Racing Club which operated in the now-demolished building next door. The club’s not there any more but some of the old members who are still keeping birds are getting back together for a celebratory pigeon release.

While the hall’s been well used over the years there’s not a lot of documentation about it.

Brian Smith, who’s helping to organise the day, is urging anyone with memorabilia, photos, stories or any other information about the hall to get in touch ahead of the celebration on 0419 191 432.

by ALEX MURFETT