History of the Tullamarine War Memorial Hall

The Tullamarine War Memorial Hall stands as an enduring tribute to the service and sacrifice of Tullamarine residents during the Second World War. Established through the fundraising efforts of the Tullamarine Progress Association and the local community during the 1950s and 1960s, the Hall was intended as a living memorial honouring 15 Tullamarine servicemen who enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) or Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The Hall was opened by the City of Keilor on 15 August 1970.

Two of Tullamarine’s Second World War servicemen lost their lives on active service. Alfred John Cock (VX47528) died on 1 July 1942 when the Japanese prisoner-of-war transport ship Montevideo Maru was sunk off the Philippines. Herbert Patrick Doyle (VX193398) was killed during the Siege of Tobruk in North Africa in 1941. Their sacrifice remains central to the Hall’s commemorative significance.

The Tullamarine War Memorial Hall was established to serve both commemorative and practical purposes, providing a place for remembrance while functioning as a community gathering space. Over subsequent decades, the Hall’s original commemorative identity became obscured as the building went through multiple name changes, and by the early 2000s, became known as the Tullamarine Community Hall.

In 2025 - 2026, a community campaign was initiated that advocated for the restoration of the Hall’s original name. Supported by residents, local businesses, historical organisations, and the Glenroy Returned and Services League (RSL) Sub-Branch, the community campaign collected 750 signatures through physical and online petitions.

On 24 August 2026, Hume City Council formally approved restoring the name Tullamarine War Memorial Hall. The exterior Hume City Council signage was replaced in October 2026 to reflect the hall’s original interior signage and restoring its original name.