Union Hall (Adelaide)

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.

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 Union (AUU).^[1] The appeal raised £103,761, with notable contributions including £6,000 from the AUU and £12,000 from GM Holden.^[2] 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,^[3] the building was named "Union Hall", and opened on 8 August 1958.^[4] 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.^[1][5][6]

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.^[7][8]

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.^[5] In 2007, the University ceased allowing the use of the hall for artistic and theatrical purposes, turning it into a full-time lecture theater.^[9][10]

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.^[11] The announcement was met with opposition from the local arts community,^[3] the National Trust,^[12] and the Adelaide City Council.^[13] In February 2010, the hall was provisionally listed on the State Heritage Register,^[14][15] allowing for submissions from the public regarding the heritage status of the hall.^[7] However, in September, South Australian Minister for Environment and Conservation Paul Caica removed it from the register,^[16] and the hall was demolished between 17–26 November of the same year.^[17]

The Hall

Union Hall was originally constructed to seat 499, with a stage 72 feet (22 m) from front to back and a proscenium arch of 38 feet (12 m). Under the stage was an extensive basement with dressing rooms, and electrical room and a workshop.^[6]

Notes