In 1983, Margaret Bannan and Murray Neville were enjoying a cup of tea when they realised there was little for kids to do in the area. So, they teamed up with Margaret Kranz, Iris Kennedy, and Mayor Gary Thorn to approach the Ministry of Housing about using a vacant house on Truscott Avenue to support better and connect with the community. Thus, the Eaglehawk Community House was born.
John Hungerford, the Welfare Officer at the Eaglehawk Community Centre, joined to provide dental checks and oversee the well-being of young people through Community Health. With no grants available, the group fundraised through raffles. Councillor David Kennedy secured small amounts of funding from different sources. Finally, in 1984, grants began to appear, allowing the Community House to furnish its space.
The founding members formed the Committee of the Eaglehawk Community House and, with partners Community Health, organised weekend camping trips for children aged 8-12. After 30 years, the Community House moved from Truscott Avenue to Bright Street and reopened in 2014. Today, the Eaglehawk Community House provides low-cost or no-cost activities, including Tai Chi, playgroups, meals, and various classes.
The Community House produces its own magazine and offers food assistance programs, including grocery and personal product hamper assembly, meal preparation, cooking classes, and a meals program for budget-conscious individuals. They are also ready to provide emergency relief assistance when disaster strikes the community. The Eaglehawk Community House is now a registered charity organisation and a major partner in delivering the Eaglehawk Children’s Festival and the Dahlia & Arts Festival each year. Over 19,000 volunteer engagement hours are required to operate the Community House, including administration, gardening, and preparing community lunches. The Eaglehawk Community House provides the equivalent of over $1.5 million in support to citizens annually.