A 5-hectare endowment paddock adjoining the Hororātā Hall is being returned to full productivity, more than 130 years after it was donated by Sir John Hall to support the future of this rural community’s hall.

When Sir John Hall helped establish the Hororātā Town Hall 1890, he donated the land for the hall and an adjoining paddock, placing conditions on the land to ensure it would always generate income for the Hall. The land was intended to provide a long-term revenue for the Hall’s operation.

That original vision is now being continued, with local farmers and rural businesses working together to develop the block after it had been largely dormant for several years following the lapse of a previous lease.

Local farmer, Tim Cookson says the land has strong productive potential. “This is good land that has been underutilised. The aim is to develop it so it once again contributes to the running of the Hororātā Hall,” says Tim. “It’s been great to see how quickly the farming community has got behind it. There’s something that really resonates about using land productively to support our community.”

The paddock required extensive work to bring it back into production, including weed control and a quick crop rotation to get the paddock ready for planting. Fertiliser inputs are being supported by Ravensdown. Lucerne is now being established, with the intention of creating a consistent, harvestable crop that delivers long-term returns.

Farming operations have had to work around the paddock’s use as overflow parking for major community events, including the Hororātā Highland Games, requiring flexibility in cropping and harvest schedules.

Hororātā Community Trust Executive Officer Cindy Driscoll says the project reflects the strength of rural collaboration.

“It is a considerable investment to turn the paddock back into a productive asset, and the Trust simply could not do this without the time, skills and resources being contributed.

We are incredibly grateful to all involved in the endowment paddock project and for helping with maintaining the hall.”

Sir John Hall was an innovative farmer in his time, and it’s fitting that his endowment is once again being worked by people who understand land, seasons and long-term thinking.”

The Trust is currently progressing plans to restore the Hall to ensure it remains for future generations. The Hall is well used, hosting three to four bookings each month and providing a base for the local Playcentre and Carol’s Closet Community Op Shop.

Income generated from the endowment paddock goes directly towards the Hall’s operational costs, helping keep hire fees affordable and ensuring the building remains accessible to the community it was built to serve.

“This project is about more than a crop. It’s rural people backing a rural asset in a practical way,” says Cindy. “The endowment paddock was created to keep the Hall standing for the long term, and that’s exactly what it’s doing again.”