Located in the centre of Manilla, on Manilla Street (Manilla Street Map, ref B2), the Manilla Town Hall complex includes the:
- Manilla Large Memorial Hall
- Small Town Hall
- Manilla Mechanics Institute Meeting Room
The Manilla Town Hall complex occupies a site that has a long and fascinating history. When Manilla was first proclaimed a town in 1885, a School of Arts was built there. Five years later, the School of Arts was demolished and the larger Mechanics Institute hall was built in its place. The Small Town Hall was also added. Most of the complex was destroyed by fire in 1913, rebuilt and reopened in 1914 and renovated again in 1992.
The Manilla Library was housed in the front room of the Small Town Hall until it was moved across the road into the newly converted Council Customer Service Centre and Library in April 2008. At the same time, the room at the front of Small Town Hall vacated by the old library was given a makeover and converted into a community space for meetings. This new meeting room, in a nod to its history, is known as the Manilla Mechanics Institute Meeting Room and has some special historical touches. Former shire council chamber furniture dating back nearly 60 years has been restored and put back into use. The room is also decorated with historical council honour boards and displays of old photos, documents and certificates.
The Memorial Hall has a stage and a seating gallery upstairs, which makes it an ideal venue to host weddings and balls. In addition to housing the Manilla Mechanics Institute Meeting Room, the Small Town Hall has a fully equipped kitchen and servery. The two halls are joined by a covered courtyard.
All three rooms are available for hire, separately or together.