A piece of history lives on.
Lawson Hall, also known as the Mechanics Institute, is another step closer to being renovated and disabled access provided, after Blue Mountains City Council last week approved works to start on the hall.
The hall will gain a new entry portico, disabled toilet and entry, and a 25-30 lot carpark.
“This is an exciting moment that will see Lawson Hall refurbished with a carpark,” said Councillor Romola Hollywood.
Cr Chris Van der Kley said despite his “chequered history with this particular hall” – he hasn’t always supported it – he “hoped to be around for the opening of this [refurbished] hall".
The historic hall was built in 1903 when Lawson residents carried 40,000 bricks down the highway from the old Lawson Railway Station.
It was saved during the Great Western Highway roadworks by a concerted community campaign.
“We went on vigils every Sunday morning for 18 months to save the hall,” recalls Lawson resident Erst Carmichael.
Secretary of the Friends of the Mechanics Institute, Warren Baker, was pleased council had approved the upgrade. Mr Baker expected works to start by October.
“It will make it a more enhanced and improved facility to cater for a diverse mix of entertainment, theatre and community events generally,” Mr Baker said.
He added it would also “make it more accessible to those people in the disabled community”.
The renovation also includes finishing off the back rooms of the hall so they can be used to host smaller events or as storage for costumes and props used during local productions by the Brook Theatre.
Funding for the hall renovation came about through special rate variation funding approved by Blue Mountains City Council in July last year.
The improvements to the entry are funded by a Roads and Maritime Services contribution.
Mr Baker hopes an electrical upgrade, provided by a state government grant to the Friends group, will be finalised when the works occur.
