Community

The Buttery Shop Sign
Residents have described Uki’s Public Hall as an iconic place within the village and as one of the most loved landmarks, describing it as a “charming village atmosphere at the foot of Mt.Warning” ("Uki Village," 2014). Every Saturday, the Uki Public Hall becomes an area of hustle and bustle where people from around the village are able to gather as a community. This is due to the popular weekly market that is held outside the Public Hall where homemade foods, trinkets, and clothing are among some of the items that can be found for sale. The building becomes a hub for the village, as it is located on the main street and is close to many other important landmarks of Uki. To the right side of the Hall, the Butter Factory is home to a diverse range of local endeavors and provides a creative outlet where residents sell pies, jewellery, clothing, and is residence for the printing and computer center. 
Super Market
This part of the community provides a fundamental aspect to Uki’s creative outlet. The Public Hall is also situated closely to Uki Café, the Post Office, Uki Supermarket, and Uki Public School, which make it an essential component to the community buildings. Not far from this central hub lays the soccer fields and tennis courts, which provides the village with an outdoor space for various activities.
Soccer Field
Along with the Uki Public Hall, Mount Warning (Wollumbin) is an infamous attraction that brings tourists to the village, given that there are many myths surrounding the landmark. Mt. Warning is at the heart of the community and is renowned for its mountain peak being the first place in Australia where the light touches at sunrise. In February 2013 the village of Uki took a devastating hit when their local ‘watering hole’, the pub located in the Mt. Warning Hotel, burned to the ground. 
Previous location of the Pub
The people of Uki were deeply saddened by the loss of this historic building, which was just shy of its 100th birthday. Unlike surrounding villages that are known to be quiet, in Uki, the residents are always out and about, which creates energy that is reflected in their passions for their community and the beautiful environment. As tourists drive through Uki, they seem to be drawn to the relaxing lifestyle and strong community bond. This results in having many different cultures from across the globe coming together in this small village, because for them, Uki feels right.

Author
Jessie Ablett

References
Uki village. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.ukivillage.com.au/
Geoffrey Colwill (personal communication, March 6, 2014)
Eddie Roberts (personal communication, March 6, 2014)

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