FAQ for Hall and Venue Hire

You can use our online booking system to check availability for some venues and to book children's birthday parties and other private functions. For workshops and ongoing bookings, please use the venue hire application form.

Fees vary based on the venue size, event type, and hirer category. Fees for each venue are listed on their respective pages. View a summary of current fees and charges(PDF, 123KB).

We can hold a tentative booking for up to 14 days before full payment is required. Bookings made within 14 days of the event must be paid at the time of booking. Once accepted, you will receive an event sheet with all fees listed. Payment can be made over the phone via credit/debit card or in person at our customer service center during business hours. Online or BPAY facilities are not available for casual venue hire.

Please refer to the conditions of hire(PDF, 239KB). You must agree to these terms(PDF, 239KB) to hire any venue.

28-days notice is required for all cancellations. An administration fee will be deducted from any refund issued. Cancellations made within 28 days of the event will incur the full hire fees.

Cooper Park Community Hall, Vaucluse Bowling Club, Sherbrooke Hall, The Gunyah, and Rose Bay Cottage are available for children's birthday parties. Session times are available on Saturdays and Sundays: 9am - 12:30pm and 1:30pm - 5pm. Access our online booking system to check availability and make a booking.

Youth party events (ages 13-25) can be held at The Gunyah and Vaucluse Bowling Club on Friday and Saturday nights until 11pm (music off by 10pm). Two professional security guards are required, and the function must be registered with NSW Police.

Cooper Park Community Hall, Vaucluse Bowling Club, Sherbrooke Hall, The Gunyah, The Cultural Hub, and EJ Ward Community Centre are fully accessible. Most other venues have some accessible features. More details can be found on each venue's website page.

We cannot arrange site visits for casual/one-off bookings. However, 3D virtual tours and photos are available on each venue's website page on the Council’s website.

Venues are offered under 'Dry Hire' conditions, meaning only the hall (with limited furniture such as tables and chairs) is provided. You need to bring everything else you need for your function. All venues have a kitchen facility, but cooking equipment, crockery, and cutlery are not provided and must be removed at the end of your booking. Refer to individual venue pages for photos and further information about inclusions and capacity.

The tables are approximately 1,830L x 760W x 740H. Refer to individual venue pages to check how many are provided in each facility.

To ensure all hirers can fairly access their hired space, our booked 'from and to' times are strictly inclusive of set up, pack down and cleaning. You cannot access the venue outside of these hours.

Items cannot be left in the venue once the period of hire is complete.

Jumping castles and other inflatable devices are not permitted inside any halls. At Cooper Park Community and Vaucluse Bowling Club, you can have a jumping castle in the adjacent park area (devices to be hired from an independent provider, not Council). You would need to complete a Park Hire for Special Events form and an Amusement Devices Activity Approval form. You would also need to supply Council with a copy of the amusement device supplier’s Certificate of Currency showing Public Liability Insurance to the value of at least twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) per claim for the intended period of hire.

All venues have street parking only. Some venues have small public car parks adjacent to the site. Follow street signage for hours and restrictions. None of our venues have dedicated parking for hirers.

Most venues have free WIFI available. Signs with the username and password are posted at these venues.

Some A/V equipment is installed at Cooper Park Community Hall, Vaucluse Bowling Club, Sherbrooke Hall, and The Bay Room. You need to supply your own cables/adaptors. See the relevant venue pages for more details.

Yes, you can decorate the venues but nails, screws, sticky tape or any other fastenings must NOT be attached to walls, floors, furniture or fittings. All decorations must be removed at the conclusion of your booking. Please note that as a part of Council’s single use plastics policy, balloons are NOT allowed in any of our venues.

Candles (with the exception of birthday cake candles), fireworks and smoke machines are prohibited. Incidents causing the smoke alarm to be activated will incur a fire brigade callout fee. A reasonable number of birthday cake candles are allowed.

Yes, hirers can supply their own liquor. An attendee with a Responsible Service of Alcohol Certification (RSA) must be nominated to oversee alcohol service.

Most venues are accessible by a unique access PIN sent to you when your booking is confirmed. For venues that still use a key, collection details will be emailed to you.

Yes, hirers must leave the premises clean and tidy. All hirer property must be removed, and equipment and furniture returned to storage. Kitchen benches and sinks must be wiped clean, floors cleaned, and rubbish placed in external bins where provided. Cleaning equipment is not supplied, except for a broom and mop.

Bins are provided outside at most venues. A small amount of rubbish can be left in these bins. If bins are not available, you must take your rubbish with you.

Our community venues are unstaffed. In case of an emergency, please call 000 for police, ambulance, or fire brigade assistance. For any access issues, contact Challenger Security on 0418 222 382 and for any property damage or issues please contact Council’s after hours service on 9391 7000.

You can contact the Venue Coordinator on 9391 7170 (Monday - Friday) or email your enquiry to venuehire@woollahra.nsw.gov.au.