Mylor History group

A short history

The Cotton Memorial Hall of Mylor

The original hall at Mylor was a stringy bark and corrugated iron structure built on land donated by George Witherage Cotton (1821 – 1892). Cotton, born in Kent, England, moved to South Australia in 1848. He became a land agent and politician, working tirelessly for the system known as the ‘Working Men’s Blocks’ scheme, whereby the Government of the day offered, at low rent, small parcels of land up to 8ha to working men. Cotton was know by many as the ‘Blocker’s Friend’.  By 1896 about 12,900 people - nearly 4% of the population lived on such blocks in Adelaide’s suburbs and at the edge of country towns such as Mylor.

After Cotton died, it was decided to erect a hall in his honor at Mylor. The Cotton Memorial Institute was opened by the Governor Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton in 1896. 

The only known photograph of this original structure is dated c1920 and shows a woman standing in front of the building, a Mrs. C.L. Goodfellow (Photo courtesy J. Polkinghorne).

In 1922 a new hall was constructed of local stone on the same site by local builder Eusebius Wilson Jnr., who had built a number of homes and other buildings in Mylor. The Hall Foundation stone was laid on 24^th June 1922 by Sir John Langdon Bonython KCMG.

Quite recently an ornamental silver key came to light – kindly donated to the MHG by Mr. Errol Polden.  It is engraved with the words “Presented to C.H. Cotton, Son of the Founder” and on the reverse side “Mylor Cotton Memorial Hall 27.1.23”. The key has been restored and will be exhibited by the Mylor History Group at future memorabilia displays.

During the 1940’s a projection box was built at the front of the hall, obscuring the name of the hall. Recent exploration by photographer Peter Holderness and others, revealed the original signage and settled long-standing speculation on the "real" name of Mylor Hall. It was the "Mylor Cotton Memorial Hall".

In time, ownership of the hall was assumed by the Stirling District Council, and in the early eighties was extended to provide a meeting room, kitchen and other facilities. The Stirling Senior Citizens Club, later to become known as the Mylor Citizens Friendship Club Inc., used the hall from that time, and was responsible for its upkeep. With dwindling MCFC membership and a lack of community use of this great resource, there was a very real risk that use of the Hall would decline to the point where the Council might consider disposing of the property.

By mid-2004, a group of Mylor residents, concerned about the uncertain future of the hall, joined the MCFC with the aim of kindling new interest in community activities at the Hall. In so-doing, they ensured its long term viability as a resource for the Mylor community.

The Mylor History Group would like anyone with historical photos or further information about the hall to contact our Secretary Leonie Barker on 83885858.