The Trafalgar Public Hall has been granted an exemption from paying land tax after proving the land was gifted back in 1957.
The process of receiving the exemption was long and financially straining for the hall, lasting over two years.
On 24 May, 2024, the State Revenue Office issued the Public Hall with a bill for five years of land tax from 2020-2024, totalling $5900.
The large sum came as a shock to the Public Hall committee who operate the hall as a not for profit.
The State Revenue Office explains that “land tax is an annual tax on the value of land you own in Victoria, excluding exempt land such as your home. The tax helps fund public services and encourages the effective use of land.”
In February 2025, another land tax notice for the 2025 year was issued, with the Public Hall owing an additional $3100, a significant yearly price increase.
After receiving the initial tax notice, the Public Hall committee applied for an exemption.
However, due to communication issues, the initial claim was rejected and a second application was submitted.
According to the State Revenue Office, “land is exempt from land tax if a not-for-profit club owns and uses it only for the social, cultural, recreational, literary or educational interests of its members.”
The Public Hall embodies this, hosting all kinds of events including: birthdays, theatre, parties, markets, weddings, community groups, and much more.
For the Public Hall to receive their exemption, proving they operate as a not-for-profit was not enough, it was also necessary to prove the ownership of the land.
Treasurer and secretary of the Trafalgar Public Hall Committee, Eva Moscato, said “it was a long tedious process dealing with the SRO (State Revenue Office), there were complications regarding communication and responses to exemptions.”
“Each time we hit a road block it was a must to call the SRO and discuss what was needed to be done next and provide responses to questions as best we could.”
While waiting for their application to be processed, the Public Hall was advised that they needed to pay the outstanding $8900, for the six years of land tax and wait to receive a refund if the claim was approved.
After an already challenging few years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial blow threatened the viability of the hall.
As the situation continued to develop, the Public Hall committee reached out to J MacGregor Legal in Trafalgar for advice and representation.
“Following lengthy waits for the SRO and consequent queries regarding land ownership we were able to gain assistance with J MacGregor Legal as our representative.
They were able to obtain clarification relating to documents that would assist in proving the land and hall were solely for public use and under the trust of the hall committee,” said Eva Moscato.
While waiting to hear back about their exemption claim, the hall’s committee ran two successful fundraisers to help pay for the outstanding tax bill.
On 5 October 2025, a fundraiser was held at the Trafalgar Criterion Hotel hosting live entertainment, auctions, raffles, and cash prizes.
The second was a BBQ fundraiser on 7 June 2026 at Bunnings Warragul.
Thanks to community support, the hall was able to earn back approximately half of the total land tax fee.
More than a year after the application for the exemption was made, the State Revenue Office replied asking for more historical information on the hall to prove the ownership of the land.
Despite poring through documents within the hall and the historical society, no one was able to locate proof of the hall’s ownership.
It was through contact with the Baw Baw Shire that the Declaration of Trust from 1957 was found and proved pivotal to showing the land the public hall sits on was gifted and in the care of a trustee.
The Public Hall is still waiting to receive a refund on the land tax they paid prior to receiving their exemption.
Looking forward, the hall’s committee is looking forward to continuing to support local events and are hoping to spend time applying for grants to improve various aspects of the hall, including a bathroom renovation.
Jade MacGregor and Bryce Grimshaw from J MacGregor Legal were instrumental in helping the hall receive this outcome and the Public Hall committee would like to thank them for their efforts.
The Trafalgar Public Hall committee warmly welcomes anyone interested in volunteering or supporting the hall.
Please contact Andrea McDonald at 0448 377 505 or Eva Moscato at 0419 895 901.
If you’re interested in booking the hall, please contact Wombat Lyons at 0409 015 662.
