Book Our Air-Conditioned Hall

The Empire Bay Progress Hall is a beautiful, community-owned hall. It plays host to many community events and activities such as yoga, tai chi, dance, personal training, scrabble, senior’s gatherings, concerts, Empire Bay Progress Association meetings, Council presentations and education nights hosted by local community groups. Some of these activities are hosted weekly, monthly or on an ad-hoc basis.

It is a family friendly venue. Situated on a double block in the quiet village of Empire Bay, it is surrounded by lawns and garden. The larger lawn is partially shaded and fully enclosed, making it ideal for parents to keep an eye on kids and is large enough to host jumping castles and various forms of entertainment. It’s the perfect venue for celebrations with family and friends, having hosted engagement parties, weddings, birthdays, family celebrations, wakes, trivia nights and wedding anniversaries to name a few.

BBQs plus outdoor tables and chairs for 80+ people are available for hire, with a covered pergola providing shade and protection for lunching, meal preparation or entertainers.

History
Bill Myler, a property developer,, subdivided the land in Gordon and Sorrento Rd’s and donated the corner portion to the people of Empire Bay.​ History (click here to see the historical hall pictures)

The hall was built in 1920 according to the Gosford Librarian who researched Council records. There were no grants in the 1920s, but the hall was built by volunteers who have now passed on. They made use of donated new and used materials collected from local citizens and business people.

Being community owned and managed, the cost to hire the hall is kept affordable and within the budget of as many families as possible. Costs and conditions vary and are detailed in the Terms and Conditions.

The hall is available for casual hire such as birthday party or work function Monday through Sunday. For recurring bookings for conducting classes or other recurring activities, please email the Hall Bookings Officer: ebhallbookings@gmail.com.

Amenities

- Ducted air-conditioning
- TV & DVD player
- Overhead monitor
- Accessible bathroom 
- Baby change table 
- Tables and chairs (seating for 50)
- Solar on the roof

Kitchen

- Refrigerator
- Stove and oven
- Microwave
- Continuous hot water urn
- Limited cutlery and crockery

Garden

- Enclosed secure garden area
- 24 outdoor tables
- 80 outdoor chairs
- Outdoor toilets
- Two barbeques
- Please, no confetti!

Costs and conditions vary and are detailed in the Terms and Conditions.

BOOK NOW

Thank you for choosing to hire the Empire Bay Progress Hall. In doing so you are supporting a community owned and operated facility managed and maintained by volunteers.

Before you book:

  1. Please check the online calendar on the left to ensure your preferred date and time are available. If there is another function on that day, you can still book the hall but please allow 1 – 2 hours in between to enable cleaning.

  2. Review the costs table above

  3. Read the Terms & Conditions to ensure your booking lies within required guidelines.

  4. Any questions, check the FAQ’s.

Hall Booking Procedure

After you have decided the date and time of your booking, proceed by:

Step 1: Click the “BOOK NOW” button below

Step 2: On the booking screen, first choose your booking type, then your chosen time and date

Step 3: Enter your contact details and click the Payment button

(Important: make payment within 5 minutes or booking will need to be restarted)

Booking Confirmation: You will receive 2 emails confirming your booking details and payment receipt. An email will be sent shortly before your hire to provide instructions on how to access the hall.

Please note: You may amend or cancel your booking and receive a full, partial, or no refund in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. Email: ebhallbookings@gmail.com

  • Dates cannot be reserved. 

  • Refer policy detailed in the document Terms and Conditions regarding cancellation, re-scheduling and possible refund.

  • Yes, you can extend your hours, by upgrading from a half day to a full day hire.  Click on “Manage” my booking on the email you received confirming your initial booking.  Extending your hours will necessitate increased payment, which will be done online.

    If there is another booking that day, it may not be possible to extend your booking.

  • Outdoor furniture, use of the BBQ’s and extra power (for jumping castles etc) are provided with the compliments of the EBPA.  We just ask that you wipe down furniture and clean the BBQ before returning to the sheds.  Power is available via a point located in the outdoor toilet block, or other options via prior arrangement.

  • Refer Terms and Conditions document

    Freestanding decorations are allowed.

    There are to be no decorations taped or fixed to walls or doors.  Tape will damage the paintwork and the cost to repair damage will be deducted from the security deposit.

  • Shortly before your hire, an email will be sent to you advising you of how to access the hall.

  • Check the Terms and Conditions document

    Yes, you can, but you need to ensure the Terms and Conditions are met especially concerning Public Liability insurance and Working with Children checks. The responsibility is yours to check.

  • You have access to the hall ONLY for the times you have hired the hall. There is no access to the hall prior to your hire, or after your hire.

    You must ensure delivery of any jumping castles, catering or entertainers’ equipment for example are delivered within your hire times, and that you are present. The grounds are insufficiently secure to prevent misuse of equipment that is unsupervised, and the onus of responsibility is on you the hirer.

  • The security deposit will be refunded on the basis that the hall is left in the condition in which it was found prior to your hire. That means reasonably clean, furniture returned to its original place, outdoor furniture and BBQ’s cleaned and returned to the shed, no damage to the hall and grounds. It will be refunded to the same credit card you used to pay for the hire, within a week after the event.

  • Celebrations for people within the ages of 16 – 25 are not allowed in the hall.

  • The hall is licenses for a maximum of 70 people inside. (insurance purposes).

    There is seating inside for approximately 40 people. Additional tables and chairs are available in the shed outside, which can be brought in if needed. Inside furniture cannot be taken outside.

  • The Empire Bay Progress Hall is located within a residential area. As such, we ask that noise cease from 10PM onwards, with departure from the hall no later than 12 midnight.

    If police, firies or EBPA personal are called, you will lose your security deposit and you will be personally liable for any fines levied by the Police or Fire Brigade because of your behaviour or that of your guests.

  • Please email ebhallbookings@gmail.com