Union Hall (Adelaide)
Encyclopedia
Union Hall was a theatre
, hall and lecture theatre located on the North Terrace
campus of the University of Adelaide
, in South Australia
. Constructed in 1958, Union Hall served as a performance venue for various festivals and productions until 2007. It was demolished in November 2010 to make way for a new science precinct.
(AUU). The appeal raised £
103,761, with notable contributions including £6,000 from the AUU and £12,000 from GM Holden. The majority of these funds were set aside to erect a multi-purpose theatre for the Union's use. Designed by South Australian architect Louis Laybourne Smith
, the building was named "Union Hall", and opened on 8 August 1958. The Hall was built with 499 seats, thereby avoiding an ordinance requiring a full-time fireman for buildings with seating capacity of 500 or more.
Union Hall was a venue for Adelaide's first Festival of the Arts
in 1960 and the venue for the first 10 Adelaide Film Festivals, from 1959 to 1968.
In 1999, control of Union Hall was handed from the AUU to the University, and the hall was renovated into a lecture theatre, in the process reducing its capacity to 415 seats. In 2007, the University ceased allowing the use of the hall for artistic and theatrical purposes, turning it into a full-time lecture theater.
, and the Adelaide City Council. In February 2010, the hall was provisionally listed on the State Heritage Register, allowing for submissions from the public regarding the heritage status of the hall. However, in September, South Australian Minister for Environment and Conservation Paul Caica
removed it from the register, and the hall was demolished between 17–26 November of the same year.
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, hall and lecture theatre located on the North Terrace
North Terrace, Adelaide
North Terrace is one of the four terraces that bound the central business and residential district of the city of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It runs east-west, along the northern edge of the CBD.-North Side of North Terrace:...
campus of the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. Constructed in 1958, Union Hall served as a performance venue for various festivals and productions until 2007. It was demolished in November 2010 to make way for a new science precinct.
History
In 1955, in response to a shortage of student space on the North Terrace campus, the University of Adelaide began a public appeal for funds with which to renovate and expand the buildings of the Adelaide University UnionAdelaide University Union
The Adelaide University Union was founded in 1895. The AUU currently funds six affiliated bodies. These include the Adelaide University Student Representative Council , Student Care, the Clubs Association , the Roseworthy Agricultural Campus Student Union Council , and the Waite Institute...
(AUU). The appeal raised £
Australian pound
The pound was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 13 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. It was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.- Earlier Australian currencies :...
103,761, with notable contributions including £6,000 from the AUU and £12,000 from GM Holden. The majority of these funds were set aside to erect a multi-purpose theatre for the Union's use. Designed by South Australian architect Louis Laybourne Smith
Louis Laybourne Smith
Louis Laybourne Smith was an architect and educator in South Australia. Born in the Adelaide inner-southern suburb of Unley, he became interested in engineering and architecture while in the goldfields of Western Australia and later studied mechanical engineering at the School of Mines, serving...
, the building was named "Union Hall", and opened on 8 August 1958. The Hall was built with 499 seats, thereby avoiding an ordinance requiring a full-time fireman for buildings with seating capacity of 500 or more.
Union Hall was a venue for Adelaide's first Festival of the Arts
Adelaide Festival of Arts
The Adelaide Festival of Arts is an arts festival held biennially in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Although locally considered to be one of the world's greatest celebrations of the arts, that is internationally renowned and the pre-eminent cultural event in Australia, it is actually...
in 1960 and the venue for the first 10 Adelaide Film Festivals, from 1959 to 1968.
In 1999, control of Union Hall was handed from the AUU to the University, and the hall was renovated into a lecture theatre, in the process reducing its capacity to 415 seats. In 2007, the University ceased allowing the use of the hall for artistic and theatrical purposes, turning it into a full-time lecture theater.
Demolition
In September 2009, the University of Adelaide announced that Union Hall would be demolished in order to construct a new science precinct centred around a proposed Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing. The announcement was met with opposition from the local arts community, the National TrustNational Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
, and the Adelaide City Council. In February 2010, the hall was provisionally listed on the State Heritage Register, allowing for submissions from the public regarding the heritage status of the hall. However, in September, South Australian Minister for Environment and Conservation Paul Caica
Paul Caica
Paul Caica BA JP MP, , Australian politician, is a member of the South Australian House of Assembly. He represents the electoral district of Colton and is a member of the Australian Labor Party. A member of the Rann government cabinet since 2006, he is the current Minister for Environment and...
removed it from the register, and the hall was demolished between 17–26 November of the same year.