History of Epping Creative Centre
The original house was built by J Stephenson in the 1890s and he named it Everglades. John Dence purchased the property and lived on it with his wife Clara until 1953. John Dence then sold the house and lands to Hornsby Shire Council. Extensive renovations were undertaken and in 1954 the Epping Women’s Bowling Club commenced operation. In 1954 the homestead became the Everglades Wedding Reception venue. Later this became the Adones Seafood Restaurant. In 1959 the Epping Aquatic Centre was opened. After the Women’s Bowling Club closed, some other groups used the back section of the premises.
In 1988 Ron Matthews from the Leatherworkers Guild and a resident of North Epping initiated a Public Meeting which led to Hornsby Shire Council resolving that “the former Women’s Bowling Club building at Dence Park Epping be used as a Creative Centre by community craft groups to conduct meetings, classes, exhibitions and workshops.” About 15 groups were using the Centre on a regular basis throughout the 1990s. A number of OPEN DAYS were also held. Some of these spread onto the adjoining green space of the old bowling green. The Centre was only for use by groups with “clean crafts”.
In 1999 the managing Committee of the Epping Creative Centre made a submission to Hornsby Shire Council in response to a public Call for Expressions of Interest to manage the whole building following the termination of the lease for the Adonis Seafood Restaurant. In December 1999 Hornsby Shire Council resolved that the entire building be managed by the Epping Creative Centre as a section 377 Sub-Committee.
The Committee drew up plans and began renovations of the building into the rooms that we now use. Many volunteer hours were put in over ten months by members of the regular user groups. In September 2000, the newly expanded Epping Creative Centre was officially opened by Mayor Robert Browne and the large meeting room was dedicated to the founding chairman Ron Mathews with his widow, daughter and granddaughter in attendance.
Following the mergers of councils in 2016, the Dence Park area became part of the City of Parramatta Council. The Council encouraged the users of the Centre to take over and self-manage the facility. In November 2016 the Epping Creative Centre Incorporated was inaugurated and has managed the Centre since then.
The regular user groups are the members of the incorporated association and each year elect the representatives that manage the Centre on their behalf. New regular user groups are welcome to join the Epping Creative Centre Incorporated. Ask the Booking Officer for details.