Dream becomes a reality for residents of Bell, Clarence and Dargan

Residents of Bell, Clarence and Dargan come together to celebrate the start of construction on the new Clarence Hall.

For many people, buildings play a special role in creating and preserving the heart and soul of a community. Not only are they a focal point, but they also serve as memory holders, as they provide a place for people to come together and share experiences over time.

Such was the story of the Clarence Community Hall which had a forty year history of hosting children’s playgroups, community meetings and social events for the residents of Bell, Clarence and Dargan until it was sadly destroyed by the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires.  

Since then however, local residents have worked tirelessly by devoting countless hours of their leisure time to write grant applications and meet with potential funders in order to raise enough money to see the Clarence Hall rebuilt. 

Fortunately their hard work and commitment has paid off and after raising the astonishing sum of $706,000, construction on the new Clarence Hall has just begun.  

This extraordinary achievement was recently celebrated when around fifty local residents came together at the site of the new hall on Petra Ave, Clarence for a community lunch to mark this significant milestone in the history of their community. 

On display at the event where the architects’ plans for the building which is due to be completed by June 2024 (please note that this date is subject to weather, the supply of materials and Council processes.)  

Architect’s plans for the new Clarence Community Hall

Currently, the site is being cleared and levelled so a concrete slab can be poured on it.  The second phase (from September through to December 2023) will be the construction of the hall to lock up, with the final phase involving the fit out of the hall and landscaping due to begin in January 2024. 

Funding for the hall has been provided by the Rotary Australia World Community Service and NSW Government’s Resources for Regions program. The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, Rotary clubs from across the Blue Mountains, Centennial Clarence Colliery, Hanson’s Clarence Quarry, and Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network have also contributed.

Watch this space for more updates on this incredible community project!