Coonalpyn, South Australia

Coonalpyn Institute and Archives


Front of the Hall, Poyntz Terrace
Stained Glass Window
Stained Glass Window

The town's Honour Roll for all the local citizens that fought in World War 1 & 2, and the Vietnam War.

The Anniversary Window - In 1993 the hall committee nominated to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the hall, with a commemorative leadlight window, to replace the existing foyer window which was in poor condition.

It was decided to make this venture a community arts project, which involved inviting people in the area to learn lead lighting and then take part in the designing and construction of the window.

A sub-committee was formed and subsequently met with Arts Officer of the South East Country Board Ann Thomas, who helped to draft application for a grant that would help to finance this project.

The grant was approved, an artist in residence was chosen and with the help of some local financial input, the leadlight window was designed, built and installed by a dedicated group of lead-lighters, their families and friends.

The original builders of the hall were asked to unveil the new window on the closest date of the actual hall opening, and on the 13th of November 1993, Mr. Kevin Rorhlach, performed this task and drew this project to a close.

THE WINDOW - The Window shows a workman splitting rocks for the walls and in the distance a woman pauses for a moment to watch his progress.

Overhead the beautiful native Rosella's fly over the partially constructed building.

In the corner we see a vivid red bottlebrush which grows naturally in the scrub, whilst a superb Blue Wren feeds around the yucca bushes.

In the background a stand of Mallee eucalypts can be seen fading into the distance.

The rectangular edging features some of the crops and wild flowers of the area and these have been sandblasted onto the glass.

The centre supports depict an off centre cross in recognition of the building of the Lutheran Church built around the same time also by local voluntary labour.

Both buildings were built from local stone, quarried and trimmed by hand for the builders.