From its opening in 1921 to the present day, the Mosman Park Memorial Hall is a treasure box of memory and tradition. The building was officially opened on the 4th of April 1921 as the Cottesloe Beach Town Hall under the management of Tom Platt. The council had recognised their responsibility to provide the community with a central meeting place for civic and social life as well as establishing a centre for council chambers and offices.

The original building cost £5000 to build and furnish, and was a very functional two storey brick building in the Edwardian style of architecture. The main hall was available for social occasions, dancing, concerts and the very popular ‘picture shows’.

During the 1920’s and 1930’s, the hall, like church, was a place for meeting and greeting friends and neighbours. During this era of silent films a pianist or even a full orchestra would accompany the film. Despite the Depression, money was found in 1932 to install a walled picture garden on the western side of the hall as the outdoor cinema experience had become most fashionable in Perth during this era. Known as Camelot Outdoor Cinema or The Mosman Park Picture Gardens, the cinema provided a regular community event for families and friends.

In 1939 the town hall was extensively altered by architects Kreitmayer & Rowe into the Art Deco style which was popular at the time. The architecture has also been called ‘Inter-War Functionalist’ and ‘Art Moderne’. The transformation of the building from a plain box shape into its current streamlined and curvaceous form was intended to lift the spirits of local residents recuperating from the hardships of war and the depression.

Olivia Dawes, a resident of Mosman Park has these memories of the Hall from 1938 – 1944:

"In those days it cost sixpence (5 cents) to sit down stairs at the pictures and eight pence if you went upstairs. Matinees were held on Saturday afternoons and children’s pictures were also screened on Friday night – children sat in the front rows – adults also went but I don’t think they’d have enjoyed the shouting as the children screamed for their hero to escape and the villain to be captured…...Once we went to the hall to see a company with performing dogs which were dressed in red and blue satin coats and pants and did tricks and rode a small tricycle…..It was during the war I remember a fair being held in the hall – like a white elephant stall where people donated all sorts of things to sell in aid of the Red Cross. The Red Cross sent parcels to men fighting overseas in World War II……"

The Hall certainly bought a touch of the ‘moderne’ to Mosman Park and the Hall’s cinema was well patronised during the 1940’s. In summer, the outdoor theatre with deckchairs continued to be very popular into the 1950’s. With names such as Marilyn Monroe, Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers headlining it was necessary to book in! Along with dances and films, there were also flower shows, ceremonies and community events. During this heyday of community atmosphere, the queue of Patrons at the hall would sometimes stretch right down Lochee Street.

Everything changed in 1959 with the introduction of television to Perth. This suburban revolution caused the cinema to close and caused the demise of practically all local cinemas.

In 1965, the hall was altered to become the Mosman Park Reception Centre, also known as the Camelot Lodge; its new role was as a reception and catering centre. Various minor alterations occurred during the 1970’s, but the 1980’s saw the Memorial Hall in a terrible state of disrepair and its future uncertain. Despite the 1980’s economic rationalism of “out with the old and in with the new”, supportive members of the council fought for its preservation and the hall was saved from demolition and renovated for use in local arts development.

$750,000 was allocated by the council to upgrade the facility in the Art Deco Style it possessed in 1939. In recognition of the wonderful work done for the restoration, Marcus Collins Architects were nominated for a Heritage Renovation Award in 1994.

The Mosman Park Arts Foundation (now MosArts) was now officially formed and it has since functioned autonomously, self funded and supported by local community.

Memorial Hall is a brilliant space for performances, exhibitions and hosts a wide range of workshops and activities, including art and drama, singing, dancing and yoga.
World-renowned dance teacher Annie Stainer, runs Total Theatre from the hall, which provides students with a one-year intensive performance based course in theatre arts. MosArts hosts Camelot Cinema during the summer months (co-managed by Luna Palace) and has initiated community based public art projects at Minim Cove, hosts the annual Mosman Park Art Awards and other projects and initiatives.

The frequency with which people lament the passing of ‘a sense of community’ indicates its continuing importance. The Mosman Park Memorial Hall takes on this important role and faithfully continues to exude the charm and atmosphere of a bygone era.