More than three-quarters of a century later, history is kind of repeating for the hall.

In the midst of COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing, the newly restored Rathmines Theatre, as it is known, will be one of the key venues for people to gather and enjoy talking about the past, as part of Lake Macquarie City Council's annual History Illuminated festival.

"History Illuminated is going ahead this year, because it's an important part of what we offer for our community," said Jessica Dowdell, the council's lifelong learning and engagement coordinator, adding the events would be COVID safe.

"People still need that opportunity to connect, to talk about their history and heritage, and we can give that to them in a safe space."

The nine-day festival offers 38 events, including author talks, research workshops, and a cruise to southern Lake Macquarie. The festival is launched in the Rathmines Theatre on Friday night, the first event since the hall's refurbishment, and bringing life back to a piece of lake history.

The subjects being covered in the talks range from the lake's Indigenous history and links to the colonial past to a discussion with rock biographer Jeff Apter and pop icon John Paul Young, along with stories about the former Rathmines RAAF base.

Another window to the past will be opened by the council's community history officer Judy Messiter, who will talk about a trove of "lost and found" press photographs of Lake Macquarie, including historical shots of Morisset Hospital and celebrations in the Swansea area in the 1980s, known as "Dozens Day".

"Rather than the big-picture history, it's the small-picture history, and that's very important in this day and age, so you know about the unique flavour and identity of Lake Macquarie," said Ms Messiter of the festival's appeal.

Local rail history author Ed Tonks, who will be talking about his Tracking Back books on Sunday, is delighted this year's festival is going ahead, highlighting the importance of the past. .

"It's not just confined to Lake Macquarie," Mr Tonks said, as he looked at the old hall, where servicemen and servicewomen, playing their part in a global event, once gathered.

"You've got world history impacting on Lake Macquarie, and you've got events and people from Lake Macquarie impacting on broader world history."

Declaration: Scott Bevan is the author of The Lake and a participant in History Illuminated.

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