In country towns institute buildings have been the heart of their communities – for meetings, council offices, dances, performances, government elections, picture shows, church services and concerts. Peter McFarlane relates an incident from 1962 when Minlaton Town Hall was used as a polling place.
In 2023 while most institute buildings are still used for the same activities as a hundred years ago, Hoyleton Institute is now privately owned and has become the holiday home and workshop for John Hayward and his friend Will. Traces of the building’s former life inspired John to undertake a PhD to research these ghosts. His story about using the building is now on this site. You can also read an article about his research at The Hoyleton Institute Stage Door Inscriptions and the Ghosts of Forgotten Travelling Performers.
