The hall, built in 1887, once farewelled Boer War troops, and was a relic of when Port Chalmers had a significant military presence, fellow local historian Ian Church said.
The Dunedin City Council is pulling the hall down early next month.
Both men accepted as inevitable the old hall would be pulled down because it had deteriorated to such a degree.
Mr Neilson, a former Chalmers Community Board member, said the hall had "outlived its economic life and its social life". No agency had wanted it and the hall was neglected for "years and years".
Mr Church said two of the 11 New Zealand contingents that fought in the Boer War (1900-02) departed from Port Chalmers.
Until the end of World War 1, Port Chalmers had separate naval and garrison artillery militia, reflecting its significant position as Otago's third biggest town, after Dunedin and Oamaru.
When it was not required for military purposes, the hall was used for the sea cadets, flower shows, dances, and sports, Mr Church said.
Historic Places Trust Otago Southland archaeologist Dr Matthew Schmidt said the hall was not listed with the trust, but the council had required archaeological authority as the building was pre-1900.
The trust opposed demolition, but its position had no legal standing, he said.
Chalmers Community Board chairwoman Jan Tucker said it was sad to lose the historic hall, but years ago the community was asked to nominate one hall to be maintained by the city council. The Port Chalmers Town Hall had been identified and served the area well.
In a serious state of disrepair for the past 20 years, the old hall would take a huge amount of work to upgrade, and money was scarce, she said.
In her report to this month's community board meeting, Mrs Tucker recommended community feedback be sought as to how the land should be used.
- eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz
