Albert Hall, Canberra

The Albert Hall is a hall in Canberra, Australia, used for entertainment. It is on Commonwealth Avenue between Commonwealth Bridge and the Hotel Canberra in the suburb of Yarralumla.

Overview

The hall was opened on 10 March 1928 by the Prime Minister, Stanley Bruce. Bruce named the hall, explaining at the opening ceremony that he had chosen the name from the Royal Albert Hall in London and also because it was the first name of the Duke of York, later King George VI and furthermore that it commemorated the "Consort of the Queen who had proclaimed the Australian Commonwealth".

The hall was designed by the Federal Capital Commission architect John Kirkpatrick, assisted by Robert Casboulte and Henry Rolland. It is in the Georgian Revival style. A porte-cochere at the front allows for passengers from vehicles to alight undercover. The hall was not heated in its early years, and patrons had to bring rugs, thick coats and water bottles. Singers were known to perform in fur coats until heating was finally installed after World War II.* Exploring the ACT and Southeast New South Wales, J. Kay McDonald, Kangaroo Press, Sydney, 1985, p42 ISBN 0-86417-049-1

Prior to its construction, the largest hall in the Federal Capital Territory was at the Causeway in Kingston. Until the completion of the Canberra Theatre in 1965, the Albert Hall was the only place in Canberra for audiences of more than 700 people other than the picture theatres.

The Albert Hall...
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