Happy 100th birthday, Montgomery Pavilion!

10/04/2025

The green and white painted Montgomery Pavilion, which is framed by the branch of a large tree. In the foreground lawn is visible, with trees and garden space visible behind the pavilion in the background of the photo.

Locals and community groups gathered recently to celebrate the 100-year-old Montgomery Pavilion in Mortlake, which has recently been given a new lease on life.

The Pavilion, which sits under the towering branches of a 140-year-old oak tree, was built as a legacy in 1924 with £500 bequeathed by local Councillor Thomas Montgomery, and since then the pavilion has been a community asset for generations, playing host to community gatherings, weddings, birthdays and other family events.

Mortlake District Historical Society secretary, Jillian Clingan, said many Mortlake locals have fond memories of the pavilion.

'The pavilion was used often from the late 1920s to the 1980s by local community groups. It is a lovely place to sit and look over the lake,' Jill said.

Over time however, the pavilion’s condition deteriorated, leading locals to urge Moyne Shire Council to restore the cherished asset to its former glory, making it safe and accessible for everyone in the community.

With a grant through the Tiny Towns Fund, the council carried out renovations to bring the pavilion back to life.

Enhancements included repainting the whole pavilion, repairing the under cover seating, laying new pavement, replacing the kiosk roller shutter, and installing a new bar fridge to cater for more events and gatherings.

'Hopefully, people will be enjoying the pavilion for another 100 years and more community groups will join together to take care of it in the years to come,' Jill Clingan said.

The works were completed in time for the pavilion’s centennial held in November last year.

The celebration, attended by close to 100 people and supported by multiple community groups, is testament to the affinity locals have for the pavilion.

‘It was really good to bring all those community groups together,’ Jill said. ‘Mortlake has some lovely people that are really involved and do a lot for the community.’

The upgrades are another example of how we’re delivering projects to make Victoria’s regions even better places to live, work, stay and play.

Nearby to Mortlake, the Tiny Towns Fund is also supporting upgrades to the Koroit Theatre, Nirranda Recreation Reserve and Port Fairy Goods Shed while our Council Support Package is delivering ‘smart street furniture’ across Moyne Shire’s three biggest towns.