Renaming of the Lawson Community Hall

The Council has received a request from the Lawson Community Hall 355 Committee to rename the ‘Lawson Community Hall’, located at 284 Great Western Highway, Lawson, to the ‘Lawson Mechanics Institute’.

The Lawson Community Hall 355 Committee requested that Council consider the renaming for the following reasons:

1. The construction of the building in 1903 provides historical worthiness that the current name should reflect that of what is was named when first built. ‘Lawson Mechanics Institute’.

2. There is confusion over the name of the building. It is variously known as Lawson Community Hall, the Mechanics Institute Lawson, Lawson Community Hall (Mechanics Institute); and the building facade facing the highway reads: Lawson Community Centre.

3. Various documents refer to the building using different names causing confusion with this and other community spaces in Lawson. Visitors regularly confuse Lawson Community Hall with the Mid Mountains Community Centre. Re-naming the hall ‘Lawson Mechanics Institute’ will provide clarity and consistency.

4. The Lawson Mechanics Institute has considerable local cultural heritage significance for its historical role in the education, entertainment and social life of Lawson village, particularly in the first half of the 20th century, for its social role in the continuing community life of Lawson and as a representative example of a Mechanic’s Institute building that demonstrates a way of life prevalent throughout NSW in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

The request was reported to the Council at its meeting of 28 March 2017, where it was resolved to place the proposed renaming on public exhibition and invite submissions on the proposal.

To make a submission:

• Online by completing the form below
• Send them in writing to - General Manager, Locked Bag 1005, Katoomba NSW 2780
• Email to council@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
• Hand deliver to Council Offices in Katoomba or Springwood

Submissions are due by 5pm Wednesday 31 May 2017.