A photograph of Bert Currie's bullock team pulling the old Lardner Hall along Burnt Store Rd in 1926.

At a meeting of the Lardner Mechanics Trustees in April 1925, a tender was accepted from W. Brown for the erection of a new hall. It was also decided to sell off the old buildings.
Tom Currie was the successful bidder at a public auction held by Skews and Hunter, paying £70.
The original Lardner Hall was built in 1885 on land owned by John J. Hamilton. It was 27 feet by 16 feet, unlined and had no ceiling. It was officially opened on new year's day in 1886, with a community picnic held to mark the occasion.
In January 1887, Mr Hamilton transferred one acre of land surrounding the hall to the trustees. Later that year it was decided that a larger hall was needed. Another larger hall, 30 feet by 20 feet, was opened.
This new Lardner Hall was clad in weatherboards, had an iron roof with a platform at the northern end, and the walls and ceiling were clad with painted hessian bagging.
Both buildings had been planned by Charles Round.
The hall was used for church services and, when the Lardner State School building was burnt down in 1912, as the school for 16 months.
A larger hall was built and officially opened in August 1925. Newspaper reports at the time detailed the opening with more than 600 people in attendance.
The West Gippsland Gazette report from Tuesday, September 8 provided the hall's features and dimensions.
The main dancing hall was 50 by 25 feet, with a 10-foot porch at the entrance. Then the stage was a further 12 feet deep by 25 feet wide. At the back of this was the main supper room, 20 by 14 feet, and the women's dressing room, 16 by 14 feet. The overall length was 82 feet. The supper room was provided with a double chimney, giving fires in each ante-room.
The old hall was removed over two days in January 1926 by Bert Currie and his 20-bullock team. It was purchased for Bert by Logie and Allan Hedley, with the larger building to be used as a barn and the smaller one turned into stables for five horses.
Tom and Bert made preparations for the moving of the hall, making it ready for the journey to its new home about four kilometres away.
The move had a few problems. The old redgum wheels of the vehicle being used to transport the hall had shrunk in the dry hot weather and needed to be repaired mid journey. As there were no brakes on the wagon moving the hall, two logs were dragged behind to help steady it going downhill.
The next issue was a bridge that was too narrow for the two sets of wheels at the back. This was resolved by taking off the guard rails and placing beams on the outside to take one wheel.
Another problem was a steep hill that had to be negotiated. A chock was placed behind the wheels to prevent it from sliding backwards.
The two-day journey was made on January 30 and 31. The ante-rooms were moved by the Currie bullock team on February 3, 1926.
Photograph and information by Drouin History Group with assistance of the story told by Allan Hedley.
Drouin History Group volunteers collect, document, research, preserve and exhibit items that reflect life in Drouin and surrounding districts. Visit drouinhistorygroup.org.au to find out more.