The Century Hall served the community from the latter part of 1900 until 1969 when it was demolished to make room for extensions to Bonners Garage.
Built on the corner of Cambridge and Queen Streets, the old hall was used as a church and Sunday School for the Methodist congregation, for balls, dances, fairs and fetes.
During World War 1, concerts to farewell the local troops were held there. It saw sewing bees for the troops, Red Cross meetings, Scouts, Girls Brigade, country dancing, badminton and table tennis among other activities. For many years after it was built it was the largest hall on the coast between Wellington and Palmerston North.
The hall was demolished at about the same time as the old Methodist Church at the rear was moved to Waitarere, where it was put to use as a Scout and Guide Hall.
Pictured: The hall just before its demolition.At left, the old church at the rear of the hall.
