The gleaming revamped new Boulia Shire Hall is now open for business providing a revitalised centre for town meetings and other activities.
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The Hall was officially reopened on Tuesday by Boulia Mayor Rick Britton and Senator for Queensland Susan McDonald.
The half a million dollar renovations to the centre cost took a year to complete using mostly local labour and included replacing the ceiling, constructing an awning and conducting internal repairs.
Senator McDonald said the upgrade was part of the Australian Government's $1.5 million investment in Boulia to support jobs and industry in the region with upgrades also to the primary health centre and to the racecourse to support the annual Boulia Camel Races.
"The Boulia Shire is worthy of government support. Coming from just south of Cloncurry, I know how important it is to have great facilities in our towns," Senator McDonald said.
"It's important for the Camel Races which attracts huge numbers of tourists, but it's more important for local communities to be able to meet here in the hall to celebrate the good times and get together in bad times."
Boulia Shire Mayor Rick Britton said the community had already reaped the many benefits of the upgrade to the community hall, with hall booking numbers increasing by 30 per cent, bringing both social and economic benefits to the remote community.
"The upgrades to Boulia Racecourse have also supported the successful continuation of Boulia's annual Camel Races, which attract up to 3000 visitors to our town, by ensuring our facilities are up to current safety standard for spectators and the governing racing bodies," Cr Britton said.
"The renewal of the hall will mean a vast improvement in this important community facility, the stage and back stage revamp, new kitchen facilities, improved acoustics and electronic capability, the development of a zoom room and of course the complete renovation of the internal of the building enabling us to keep the character of the outside.
The Australian Government invested $1.5 million across the four Boulia projects, with the Queensland Government contributing $85,310 and Boulia Shire Council providing $45,188.
The original Boulia Shire Hall was built in 1930 but burned down in 1951. The current structure dates to 1955, originally featuring a cinema which had to be moved due to poor acoustics.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
