Close to 100 people enjoyed the birthday gathering at the hall on Saturday, September 21.

A great evening of reminiscing, storytelling and looking back on the hall's long and proud history.

A special part of the evening was the dedication and official unveiling of the hall's wonderful new mural, designed and painted by Pyree local and hall committee member Peter Crossman, with the help of the Letterheads Group who held their annual conference at the hall last year.

The mural shows the stunning view to the north of the hall towards the Shoalhaven River and Coolangatta Mountain and includes images of many of the activities conducted at the hall during its 125 years.

Life members Geoff Herne and Ian Morison along with Mr Crossman officially unveiled the superb artwork.

Mr Herne and Mr Morison, who are also patrons, were joined at the celebration by the hall's other ever-supportive patrons Greg and Joan Watts, Margaret Smith and Lyn Anderson.

Read more:

The Pyree Literary Institute was formed and the Pyree School of Arts building was constructed on land donated to the Institute by John Hay in 1894. The local community wanted to build a hall independent of the government and owned and operated by the people. A vision that continues today.

Builder, Joseph Kennedy and painter, Mr Cordery, were employed to erect the hall and it was officially opened on September 18, 1894. The contract price was £172, and incidental expenses brought the total to £206 18s 2d.

In its first year of operation, Pyree Hall was used by members of the local community for a variety of activities including a debate, concert and a ball. A piano was purchased and the following year a library was established. By 1908 the shelves were stocked with 284 books and 455 books were issued to readers during 1928.

Long-time locals recalled the popular old-time dances, when stages were present at both the front and the rear of the hall, the superb advertising curtain featuring nine local business which still hangs in the building, when the hall was used as a daycare centre, and when the hall's toilet was actually located outside at the rear of the building. Pyree Hall has also been home to the South Shoalhaven Council.

The hall has played a major role in the community. As well as hosting parties, anniversaries, meetings, seminars, weddings, wakes, balls, the hall has also been the home of the Pyree Red Cross, with a number of former members present at the function. The hall has been used as an electoral voting centre, has hosted fetes, art shows, auctions, fundraisers, all sorts of events.

It is also a place that honours the many locals who served in World War I and World War II with two superb honour rolls on the walls, as well as artwork dedicated to local Diggers.

Many great sporting teams and individual sportstars have come from the region - the Pyree Rovers Rugby League, the legendary Pyree Cricket teams which although not playing in the local first grade competition since the 1960s held the record for the most first grade premierships until recently.

Of course, there is Shoalhaven Hall of Sporting Fame member the legendary cricketer Toby Bice, who more than 50 years after his death, still holds 15 individual first grade records. He scored more than 17,000 runs including 50 centuries and 73 other scores over 50 and took around 1200 wickets, and on more than 100 occasions he had five or more in an innings. His representative cricket added 3000 runs and 100 wickets; Artie Smith, one of the greatest sporting administrators the region has ever known - also a wonderful sportsman in his own right and rightfully so Artie Smith Oval in Bomaderry is named in his honour as is the Group 7 first grade premiership trophy The Artie Smith Cup; three-time Olympic equestrian Merv Bennett who is a born and bred Brundee boy, along with his brother Terry who also represented Australia in rodeo and Chris Coulthart who played for the Deaf Wallabies, who all attended the function.

The incredible story of three-time Australian boxing champion Hughie Dwyer was also recounted - a man who came to the area as ward of the state and went on to be the Australian light, middle and welterweight boxing champion - he started his boxing at Pyree Hall, which hosted his first title fight.

The hall's recent visit by NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian during her Shoalhaven tour was also highlighted, where she described the hall as "wonderful" and Mr Crossman's mural as the best she had ever seen.

The night concluded with chats to a number of the long-time Pyree/Brundee/Numbaa locals, reminiscing about the hall, providing many stories, while the patrons officially cut the 125 birthday cake.