Hall, just on the Northern border of the Australian Capital Territory, is named after Henry Hall who was the first resident landholder of the Ginninderra district. Originally from Loughborough, England he arrived in NSW in 1823 and immediately got a job working for the Australian Agricultural Company. Ten years later he obtained a grant of 3,492 acres in the Ginninderra district. He married Mary Fisher, had four daughters, six sons and named his property "Charnwood" for reasons unknown.

By 1861, settlement in the Ginninderra district had reached an advanced stage. The largest property was owned by a William Davis and his wife Susan Adriana. It included homesteads, workers' cottages, a store and a post office. However it wasn't until 1881 that it was unofficially recognised as a village and surveyor Charles Potter was instructed to survey the area for an official village site. Typically he chose a location two miles away from the established village.

Working with uncharacteristic speed, the new village was proclaimed in 1882 and named Ginninderra, which was also the name of the unofficial village. This suggested that the Government of the time wanted to replace the original with their new improved version. Those in the unofficial village complained, and the new village was renamed Hall, which was far easier to spell. The new village layout was a simple grid, common at the time. Regardless of the speed of proclamation the first actual sale of allotments didn't occur until 1886, which was followed by three more sales in 1892, 1895 and 1902. During this time houses and shops were established, saving the residents the two mile walk to the unofficial village.

Hall continued on its merry way until, in 1911, NSW gave some land to the Commonwealth for a new Capital they had in mind and Hall was included within the boundaries. Just to make it interesting a Highway (the Barton) was eventually run through the centre of the village. After the Second World War the village went into decline until 1967 when Hall finally obtained a water supply and pre-Yuppies 'discovered' it. Then in 1980 they built a bypass around Hall which had much the same effect as sticking a small cute creature in formaldehyde. Periodically, attempts are made to make the village more 'rural' and 'rustic' by upgrading and modernising the facilities.

Of interest to the Hitch-Hiker

While not large, the sheer amount of 'rustic' available in Hall means that there's a great deal for a Hiker to see.

The Village Well

Don't expect your classic high stone well with thatched roof and quaint bucket type well. Instead you have a cairn with a plaque marking the re-opening of the well, a 1/2 foot high wall¹, and a steel grid to stop the Littlest Hikers from falling in.

Memorial Avenue of Trees

After the First World War each of these trees was planted to commemorate the seventeen young men of the Hall district who served in that War. Each has a plaque next to it with the soldier's name. The two cypress trees located either side of the original gateway are in memory of the two who died in active service. A number of the trees have died but are being replaced with another of the same species².

Hall Premier Store and Post Office

In the beginning was a Store and it contained a Post Office. Then the Store was demolished and a new one built along with a new Post Office. Then the Post Office moved to yet another new building across the street. Then the Post Office returned to the bosom of the New Store. Thus the Wheel of Life turns.

A typical store with the usual range of goods and services to keep a Hiker happy. Though it doesn't sell towels. The Post Office resembles most Post Offices anywhere in that it will give you almost every service you could want but makes posting your letters difficult.

Churches

Hall, or at least the Hall District has three churches. One is in Hall, one is just outside Hall, and one is over the border in NSW.

Located within Hall is St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church. It was built in 1941 and dedicated in 1948. It contains an unusual feature: one of its stained glass windows depicts two eucalyptus trees to commemmorate the deaths of two young local people who died in motor accidents. Outside, its church bell is hung on a wooden frame and wakes non-church goers up every Sunday.

Just outside the village is St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, a Neo Gothic style church of locally quarried bluestone granite.

Over the border a few kilometers, and definitely not in walking range of all but the fittest Hiker, is the Wattle Park Uniting Church, again made of bluestone granite.

Hall Primary School

The original school building was built in 1911, but now houses a museum of historic school artifacts.

Sportsground and Showground

Shows were conducted anually on the showground from 1925 until 1964 when they moved to Exhibition Park in Canberra. With a pavilion and Bar-B-Que area the site is popular for larger functions and is the site for a regular Market on the first Sunday of each month.

Lots of Old Houses

For the Hiker interested in the History of Hall one can find many houses of Antiquity. Those of note are:

• Winarlia: Built in 1901 of rammed earth it is one of the oldest surviving buildings.
• Glenona: Built in the early part of the 20th century, it was originally weatherboard but has since been extended and clad in 'hardiplank'
• Kenmira: Another weatherboard cottage also recently extended and reclad.
• Ottocliffe: Built in 1987 to replace one which burned down in 1984. The walls are of "ashlar block", composed of local crushed rock, sand and cement.
• Lavender Cottage: Weatherboard cottage transported to Hall in 1960. It was one of several from a settlement on Acton Peninsular built in 1927 to house those working on Old Parliament House.
• Avoca: The original building, built in 1897. Now the same block also contains an Art Gallery built in 1970's.
• Cooee: Early 20th Century weatherboard.
• Rochford's House: Built in 1926 and has had little alteration.