In April 1952, the Moana Progress Association became and Incorporated body, but prior to this, the Association passed a resolution to build a hall somewhere in Moana large enough to accommodate the future needs of the community with the proviso that it would NOT go into debt to complete this project, which the Association readily stuck.In April 1952, the Moana Progress Association became and Incorporated body, but prior to this, the Association passed a resolution to build a hall somewhere in Moana large enough to accommodate the future needs of the community with the proviso that it would NOT go into debt to complete this project, which the Association readily stuck.

Noarlunga Council was approached re land on which to build the hall, and the Association was granted the site where the hall now stands. The Association, mainly with the help of the Moana Ladies Club raised money in all sorts of ways such as Dog shows, Dances, Card evenings, Picture shows (Slides), Street Stalls etc.

Once enough money was raised, the workers would erect as far as the money would stretch, and then wait until enough was raised to start again, and as was the case all through the whole construction. 90% of the labor was voluntary. This continued throughout the years until inflation and rising prices far outstripped our fund raising efforts; however by this time we had all the walls up, roof on and the concrete floor for the Main Hall and the Foyer laid. Unfortunately the Association has no record of the voluntary man hours that went into the project thus far, but I vividly remember the hardest job of all and that was manhandling about 500 tons of sand and stones by wheelbarrow to fill the Main Hall area ready for the concrete floor. The sand etc., was supplied by the Council. At this stage, the Association funds were zero, but thankfully nothing was owing on the Construction.

This was the last project whereby the whole project section (toilets and supper room) were constructed by voluntary labor working with Len Higgs as supervisor. The job finished up costing about $5,000.00.

In about October 1974 a scheme called S.U.R.S. was put forth by the Government at the time to help the unskilled and unemployed labor to earn some money for Christmas. This was done by making grants to Councils to finish such projects as the Progress Hall, but it was not until 1975 that the Council approached the Association to ask whether we would be willing to supervise the finishing of the Hall with this unskilled labor. The Association asked me (Len Higgs) if I would undertake this task, which I was only too pleased to do, having just recently retired; anything to get the Hall diminished.

A grant of $20,000 was allotted through Council to supply materials and pay the labourers with which and whom we were able to complete the Hall and supply tables and chairs to accommodate up to 300 people. The Kitchen furnishings were supplied by Moana Ladies Club at no cost to the Association. At the finish, the Association felt justly proud of the Moana Progress Hall.

As a gesture of appreciation for all the work and time I freely donated the Association asked me, Len C Higgs to officially open the new Hall, so it was officially opened by me in June 1977.

The Association estimates that it put at least $20,000 in materials into the Hall Building besides the voluntary labor hours supplied by the members of the Association, many of whom have since passed on, so here are the reasons why the Moana Progress Association is jealously guarding its interest in the Moana Progress Hall.

History Compiled by Len Higgs