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- By Toni Reid
Ararimu’s first hall was built near the school at the top of Sinclair Road on land donated by Thomas Kiely.
One massive kauri log from Hunua provided all the timber, and the hall was built in five months, impressively fast considering there were no power tools back then. First opened in 1887, the hall hosted many weekly dances, parties and send-offs until it gradually fell into disrepair during the first few decades of the 20th century. By then, the schoolroom had moved from Sinclair Road to a more central site at Steel Road and was utilised for dances and meetings.
With a growing population, the schoolroom became cramped at social occasions, and a new hall was needed. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the project got underway, aided by Steel Road resident Betty Upton, who convinced her husband that a venue in the district would keep their four sons close to home and less likely to get up to mischief further afield. The Uptons owned land opposite the school and provided the site for the hall, the community provided the labour, and an enduring asset was created. Betty’s husband, Cavell, roped in as Clerk of Works, almost lived onsite during the build.
One of the ‘builders’, local farmer Logan Shaw, took a particular interest in the construction of the native timber floor to ensure a level surface – not for dancing, but for bowling!
This hall became the social centre of Ararimu, hosting all kinds of gatherings, celebrations, sports like table tennis and of course, indoor bowls. Built on a shoestring budget, it was somewhat utilitarian with corrugated iron cladding on the outside and louvre windows that never quite closed tight enough to keep the drafts out.
By the late 1990s, Ararimu residents felt the hall needed renovation, with the main goals being prettier, warmer and larger. Many locals contributed their skills and time to bring the hall up to its current high standard with all the boxes ticked.
During the renovation, contractor/resident Ali Stanton found the original timber floor had only a 6mm variation in height across the entire surface, a testament to the craftsmanship of Ararimu farmers!
The hall now has a large kitchen with a servery, which makes a great bar. Double doors open out to the beautiful gardens of the village green, added in 2016 and on the east side is a large, covered deck.
