The 100-year-old facility has been upgraded to allow for more community functions. 

Mechanics’ Institute Hall secretary and project manager Ally Mercer said the multifunctional facility acted as an unofficial town hall.

Renovations to the hall include new heat pumps, toilets upstairs and downstairs, hot water, restored flooring, a new ramp for disabled access and meeting rooms. 

“There’s new plumbing throughout including hot water – which is the first time in the hall’s history that it’s ever had hot water since 1881,” Ms Mercer said.  

She said the renovations committee received a grant of $48,000 through the Tasmanian Community Fund.

“The hall had really gone into disrepair over the last 20 years so renovations were much needed.” 

North East Floor Sanding owner Shane Summers said it took him three days to sand and recoat all the floors.

“I think that was a big focal point to everyone who attended the reopening, seeing how the floors came up – like all the myrtle floors, and I think it was a big hit.” 

The hall is based in the main street in King Street in Scottsdale, and has been there since the late 1800s. 

“What we have done right from the get-go is got community involvement straight off, so we’ve talked to the community, had different types of open days and fundraisers to how they might want it to be used for,” Ms Mercer said. 

“They (the public) said they wanted it open as a mainstream general building, and therefore have it as open and as fresh as possible.” 

“For instance if someone wants a 50th birthday party, to get married there, or go and do exercise classes.”

Jessups Solar Squad owner John Thirgood said he donated solar panels, Daikin heat pumps, and a five-kilowatt solar system. 

“All together I reckon we put in over 100 hours as part of the installation. It was rewarding to assist the redevelopment,” he said. 

The facility was opened in August by Tasmanian Community Fund chairwoman Lynn Mason and Treasurer Peter Gutwein.