The Albert Hall in Adelaide was a public entertainment venue in Pirie Street, built for the
Adelaide German Club in 1880 and sold to the Salvation Army in 1899.
The building, which cost £2,000 was paid for by fund-raising activities, mostly by the members' wives, and by every member contributing £1, which was to be repaid, interest free, out of profits. But the scheme backfired; membership dropped dramatically and the focus of the remaining members was repaying the debt, to the detriment of socializing.
Fundraising began almost immediately, with a concert by the
Adelaide Liedertafel in October 1880. It was not until Oskar Ziegler (c. 1832 – 20 August 1916) became president that the Club's fortunes began to improve.
Among users of the hall was the
Garrick Club
The Garrick Club is a gentlemen's club in the heart of London founded in 1831. It is one of the oldest members' clubs in the world and, since its inception, has catered to members such as Charles Kean, Henry Irving, Herbert Beerbohm Tree, A ...
, which staged several productions in 1889 and 1890, including an operetta ''Dimple's Lovers'' written by
Guy Boothby
Guy Newell Boothby (13 October 1867 – 26 February 1905) was a prolific Australian novelist and writer, noted for sensational fiction in variety magazines around the end of the nineteenth century. He lived mainly in England. He is best known fo ...
and
Cecil Sharp
Cecil James Sharp (22 November 1859 – 23 June 1924) was an English-born collector of folk songs, folk dances and instrumental music, as well as a lecturer, teacher, composer and musician. He was the pre-eminent activist in the development of t ...
.
The building was purchased from the German Freehold Company, Ltd., managers of the property, by the Salvation Army for £4,000 in September 1898, and became Headquarters Memorial Hall.
References
{{Reflist
History of Adelaide
1880 establishments in Australia
1898 disestablishments in Australia