aquilareen
Adelaide German Club - Salvation Army
Only the facade survives.
Foundation stone 19 Aug 1878 by F Basedow, designed by G R Johnson of Melbourne, opened Jul 1879 as German Club, complex sold 1899 to Salvation Army, used as citadel & People’s Palace, damaged by fire 1938, renovated & third floor added, architect Harold Griggs, re-opened 26 Nov 1938, sold 1979, redeveloped as offices, sold 2019 to Pelligra Group, renamed Allianz House and later Pirie House, now a facade in front of yet another multi-storey building.
“The German residents form a very important portion of the population of South Australia, and for more than 23 years has the Deutscher Club, been in existence, its members now numbering upwards of 400, including a few German-speaking Englishmen. . . Up till the present time the Hotel Europe, in Grenfell-street, has been the head-quarters of the Club, but owing to its increasing strength and prosperity it has become necessary to find more extensive accommodation for the Club in a building of its own. With this view a piece of ground has been purchased in Pirie-street, next the Freemasons' Hotel, and on which the Circus now stands, at a cost of £3,000.” [Express & Telegraph 5 Jan 1878]
“The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the new German Club-House in Pirie-street was performed on Monday, August 19. in the presence of upwards of 500 spectators. . . It is also proposed to build a large hall for dramatic purposes in the rear of the Club-House.” [Advertiser 20 Aug 1878]
“The design of the front elevation of the Club-House is French Renaissance in style, and is chaste and elegant, the monotony of the front being relieved by a fine central porch, surmounted by a balustraded balcony. The front part of the lower floor of the building will consist of offices which will be for business purposes, the kitchens, and dwelling-rooms for the porter. Above these will be the Club apartments, consisting of a handsome billiard-room. . . a room for social meetings. . . a library, reading-room, cardrooms, smoking-room, and six bedrooms. . . The bedrooms are intended for the use of country members.” [Register 20 Aug 1878]
“Opening of the New German Clubhouse. . . The supervising architect was Mr. G. Joachimi, and the contractor Mr. C. Farr. . . The plans and designs have been the work of Mr. G. R. Johnson, a Victorian architect, and the front elevation is French Renaissance in style. The Concordia Band having played ‘The Watch on the Rhine’, and the Liedertafel having sung ‘Hurrah, Germania’, from the balcony. . . A short time having been spent looking over the building, a move was made to the dining-room, where about 200 gentlemen sat down to a dinner laid out in first-class style by the caterer of the Club, Mr. Knick.” [Evening Journal 15 Jul 1879]
“The ordinary half-yearly general meeting of the. Metropolitan Brick Company was held at the office, German Club Buildings, Pirie street.” [Advertiser 27 Aug 1899]
“The offer of the Salvation Army for the German Club in Pirie street has been accepted, and the building will soon change hands. . . There are now only 84 subscribers to the club, which is altogether too big to be run by such a small coterie. . . The Allgemeiner Deutscher Verein in Grenfell street has taken most of the old members of the club.” [Northern Argus 16 Sep 1898]
“The German Club, which now has dwindled down to 84 members, has accepted the offer of £9,000 from the Salvation Army for the Albert Hall.” [Critic, Adelaide 17 Sep 1899]
“As extraordinary meeting of the Thebarton Distilling Company was held at the registered office, German Club buildings. Pirie-street.” [Advertiser 15 Oct 1899]
“The Salvation Army has not yet got into possession of the Albert Hall and its surrounding offices, although the German Club vacated it and passed into thin air before the end of last month. Most of the members of the defunct club have joined the Allgemeiner Deutscher Verein, but some have attached themselves to a little coterie who meet in Gay's Arcade. Soon, no doubt, the Army will be in full blast in Pine-street. . . At present Pirie-street is a comparatively quiet avenue, but its peace will soon be broken by cymbals, and there will be no more silence while the evening is young. I wonder what the proprietor of the next-door tavern will do when the Army comes.” [Mount Barker Courier 25 Nov 1899]
“The Salvation Army has renovated the Albert Hall in Pirie street, and it looks as good as new. The architectural design is, thanks to the judicious application of paint, now seen to the best advantage, and the building altogether is cleaner than it has ever been during the last 10 or 12 years. So far the inscription on the old foundation stone has not been obliterated, although it has been painted over. That is now the only sign that the edifice was once used as a German club. The select few who now remain to the institution are now located in a building in Grenfell street east, the private residence of Mr. P. .Gay having been
transformed for their use.” [Northern Argus 6 |Jan 1899]
“The Albert Hall in Pirie-street, which for many years has been known as the German Club, exists no longer in that capacity, for the Salvation Army, having taken the building over, has caused a complete transformation. The name has been altered from ’Albert’ to ‘Memorial’ Hall, to perpetuate the memory of the wife of the Army's founder, General Booth, and by liberal treatment with the paint brush, the carpenter's implements of trade, the old characteristics of the interior have vanished. Busy Salvation officers are now engaged in the room where the Single Tax League held its meetings, and the juvenile headquarters' officers are to be seen in the old meeting-place of the Lothian Club. The flasks and the haggis are supplanted by piles of juvenile literature, while the old time bar, at which the regular habitues of the premises were wont to foregather, is also devoted to the furtherance of the Army's operations.” [Advertiser 23 Feb 1899]
“An alteration has taken place in the staff of the Salvation Army, People's Palace, Pirie street. Matron Ensign Frost has been transferred to a similar position in Sydney, and Adjutant Harper from Melbourne, takes her place.” [Register 22 Jan 1916]
“The investigation of the conditions of the employee of hotels and coffee palaces. . . Staff Captain J. T. Ford of the Peoples Palace, Pirie street, said the establishment was carried on as a restaurant. They sold meals, let beds, and carried on on the restaurants award. They had found it difficult to carry on under that award at first, but now they were getting on all right.” [Daily Herald 20 Feb 1918]
“Staff-Capt. P. Dale (official architect of the Salvation Army) recently visited Adelaide and inspected the People's Palace in Pirie street. Salvation Army authorities hope to establish a modern building on the site of the existing premises. Capt. Dale has returned, to Melbourne, where plans for the new structure will be prepared.” [News 19 Feb 1929]
“Reconstruction work at the People's Palace, Pirie street. . . It is proposed to build three new stories on to the present structure. . . the building will also act as the divisional headquarters." [News 12 Mar 1929]
“Damage estimated at £5,000 was caused by a fire which broke out about 3.30 a.m. today in the People's Palace, conducted by the Salvation Army, in Pirie street, City. The upper story of the building was gutted, and only splendid work by the Adelaide Fire Brigade saved the structure from complete demolition. Forty-five guests who were sleeping on the first floor escaped in their night attire down the main stairway and the fire escape at the rear. Many of the guests lost their personal effects. The entire ceiling of the upper, story collapsed after the people had escaped into the street. Fifty of the 61 bedrooms in the palace were badly damaged by fire and water.” [News 19 Jan 1938]
“Tenders will be called this week for the remodelling and modernisation of the Salvation Army People's Palace in Pirie street. . . will include the addition of a third story. . . The existing Renaissance elevation to Pirie street will not be materially altered, but features of the design will be emphasised.” [News 4 Apr 1938]
“the Salvation Army People's Palace, in Pirie street. . . A tour of the building today with Mr. H. T. Griggs, architect for the £10,000 remodelling, showed how the beauties of moulded cornices and similar decorative features were lost when big rooms were divided into sleeping cubicles and other small apartments. . . In the internal reconstruction, the dignity of the work done by bygone artisans will be displayed again as far as possible.” [News 21 May 1938]
“the People's Palace. . . Re-constructed and enlarged at a cost of £12,000, it now provided modern accommodation for 107 guests.” [Advertiser 28 Nov 1938]
“New City Rest Room For Troops. Forty-eight hours after the idea was first suggested, a Red Shield rest room for soldiers has been opened at the People's Palace, Pirie street. The Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army (Brig. R. S. Harewood), who declared the room open, said it had been established because of the pressing need for more such rooms. Troops could call in at any time for tea and biscuits, to play games, write letters, or chat.” [News 26 Mar 1942]
“Postwar high wages and dear food caused many restaurants to close. . . the People's Palace, Pirie street, restricted meals to guests.” [The Mail 22 Nov 1952]
“In 1912 I boarded at the People's Palace. Pirie street, Adelaide, for 17/6 a week. They also supplied good clean and satisfying meals for sixpence.” [Advertiser 23 Dec 1954, Letter to Editor]
ALBERT HALL
Albert Hall opened 4 Oct 1880 behind German Club for entertainment & dancing, architect Beyer & Withall, renamed Memorial Hall by Salvation Army when they purchased German Club 1899, hall extended, destroyed by fire 1975, sold & site redeveloped as offices.
“A dinner, to be followed by a ball, is connection with the German Club will take place to-night in the new Albert Hall, Pirie-street.” [Register 4 Oct 1880]
“Adelaide Liedertafel. A Grand Concert will be given on Tuesday, October 12, in the new Albert Hall, German Club, Pirie-street, in aid of the Building Fund of same.” [Express & Telegraph 1 Oct 1880 advert]
“The opening of the new Albert Hall in connection with the German Club was celebrated on Monday, October 4, by a ball and banquet, upwards of 400 persons attending the former and nearly 200 sitting down to the latter. It is not many months since the spacious and handsome clubhouse in Pirie-street was formally opened, and the additions just completed were at that time contemplated. . . it was decided to construct a spacious and lofty concert hall, with a stage for ordinary entertainments, and a level floor for dancing. These are the purposes to which the Albert Hall will principally be devoted, but it may also be used for meetings and other gatherings of a public character. The building has been erected from designs by Messrs. Beyer and Withall.” [Advertiser 5 Oct 1880]
“The hall is 93 feet long by 48 feet wide, and 35 feet high, while the stage has a depth of 28 feet, the proscenium being 21 feet wide and 24 feet high; The main entrance to the hall is through the spacious centre passage of the clubhouse, and there are several exit doors, some of which will be utilised by-and-by to communicate with a gymnasium or other additions contemplated to be erected on the vacant block of ground in the rear. . A balcony or dress circle will also be added to the hall.” [Express & Telegraph 5 Oct 1880]
“The Adelaide Liedertafel gave a concert in the Albert Hall of the new German Clubhouse on Tuesday night, October 12, in aid of the Building Fund of the hall. There was a large attendance, and, as is always the case when our German friends give a musical entertainment, there was nothing wanting to make the concert a thorough success. The programme was of a high order, embracing selections from some of the best masters. . . A week ago the Albert Hall was formally opened by a ball, but its acoustic properties were not fairly put to the test till on this occasion.” [Evening Journal 13 Oct 1880]
“Professor J. H. Pepper has arranged to deliver under the auspices of the Chamber of Manufactures three popular science lectures in the Albert Hall, German Club-house, Pirie street.” [Advertiser 17 May 1881]
“Adelaide Orpheus Society.— The first concert arranged by this Society will be given in the Albert Hall to-night. . . A splendid programme has been arranged both as regards choruses and solos. The Society now numbers about fifty or sixty members, who have been carefully trained by Mr. C. J. Stevens.” Evening Journal 14 Jun 1888]
“Salvation Army. . . Considerable alterations and improvements have been made to the Headquarters Memorial Hall in Pirie-street, previously known as the Albert Hall under the auspices of the German Club. These comprise a new gallery affording seating accommodation for 250, a soldiers' platform holding 175 persons, and a new ceiling to improve the acoustic properties of the hall.” [Register 11 Aug 1900]
Adelaide German Club - Salvation Army
Only the facade survives.
Foundation stone 19 Aug 1878 by F Basedow, designed by G R Johnson of Melbourne, opened Jul 1879 as German Club, complex sold 1899 to Salvation Army, used as citadel & People’s Palace, damaged by fire 1938, renovated & third floor added, architect Harold Griggs, re-opened 26 Nov 1938, sold 1979, redeveloped as offices, sold 2019 to Pelligra Group, renamed Allianz House and later Pirie House, now a facade in front of yet another multi-storey building.
“The German residents form a very important portion of the population of South Australia, and for more than 23 years has the Deutscher Club, been in existence, its members now numbering upwards of 400, including a few German-speaking Englishmen. . . Up till the present time the Hotel Europe, in Grenfell-street, has been the head-quarters of the Club, but owing to its increasing strength and prosperity it has become necessary to find more extensive accommodation for the Club in a building of its own. With this view a piece of ground has been purchased in Pirie-street, next the Freemasons' Hotel, and on which the Circus now stands, at a cost of £3,000.” [Express & Telegraph 5 Jan 1878]
“The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the new German Club-House in Pirie-street was performed on Monday, August 19. in the presence of upwards of 500 spectators. . . It is also proposed to build a large hall for dramatic purposes in the rear of the Club-House.” [Advertiser 20 Aug 1878]
“The design of the front elevation of the Club-House is French Renaissance in style, and is chaste and elegant, the monotony of the front being relieved by a fine central porch, surmounted by a balustraded balcony. The front part of the lower floor of the building will consist of offices which will be for business purposes, the kitchens, and dwelling-rooms for the porter. Above these will be the Club apartments, consisting of a handsome billiard-room. . . a room for social meetings. . . a library, reading-room, cardrooms, smoking-room, and six bedrooms. . . The bedrooms are intended for the use of country members.” [Register 20 Aug 1878]
“Opening of the New German Clubhouse. . . The supervising architect was Mr. G. Joachimi, and the contractor Mr. C. Farr. . . The plans and designs have been the work of Mr. G. R. Johnson, a Victorian architect, and the front elevation is French Renaissance in style. The Concordia Band having played ‘The Watch on the Rhine’, and the Liedertafel having sung ‘Hurrah, Germania’, from the balcony. . . A short time having been spent looking over the building, a move was made to the dining-room, where about 200 gentlemen sat down to a dinner laid out in first-class style by the caterer of the Club, Mr. Knick.” [Evening Journal 15 Jul 1879]
“The ordinary half-yearly general meeting of the. Metropolitan Brick Company was held at the office, German Club Buildings, Pirie street.” [Advertiser 27 Aug 1899]
“The offer of the Salvation Army for the German Club in Pirie street has been accepted, and the building will soon change hands. . . There are now only 84 subscribers to the club, which is altogether too big to be run by such a small coterie. . . The Allgemeiner Deutscher Verein in Grenfell street has taken most of the old members of the club.” [Northern Argus 16 Sep 1898]
“The German Club, which now has dwindled down to 84 members, has accepted the offer of £9,000 from the Salvation Army for the Albert Hall.” [Critic, Adelaide 17 Sep 1899]
“As extraordinary meeting of the Thebarton Distilling Company was held at the registered office, German Club buildings. Pirie-street.” [Advertiser 15 Oct 1899]
“The Salvation Army has not yet got into possession of the Albert Hall and its surrounding offices, although the German Club vacated it and passed into thin air before the end of last month. Most of the members of the defunct club have joined the Allgemeiner Deutscher Verein, but some have attached themselves to a little coterie who meet in Gay's Arcade. Soon, no doubt, the Army will be in full blast in Pine-street. . . At present Pirie-street is a comparatively quiet avenue, but its peace will soon be broken by cymbals, and there will be no more silence while the evening is young. I wonder what the proprietor of the next-door tavern will do when the Army comes.” [Mount Barker Courier 25 Nov 1899]
“The Salvation Army has renovated the Albert Hall in Pirie street, and it looks as good as new. The architectural design is, thanks to the judicious application of paint, now seen to the best advantage, and the building altogether is cleaner than it has ever been during the last 10 or 12 years. So far the inscription on the old foundation stone has not been obliterated, although it has been painted over. That is now the only sign that the edifice was once used as a German club. The select few who now remain to the institution are now located in a building in Grenfell street east, the private residence of Mr. P. .Gay having been
transformed for their use.” [Northern Argus 6 |Jan 1899]
“The Albert Hall in Pirie-street, which for many years has been known as the German Club, exists no longer in that capacity, for the Salvation Army, having taken the building over, has caused a complete transformation. The name has been altered from ’Albert’ to ‘Memorial’ Hall, to perpetuate the memory of the wife of the Army's founder, General Booth, and by liberal treatment with the paint brush, the carpenter's implements of trade, the old characteristics of the interior have vanished. Busy Salvation officers are now engaged in the room where the Single Tax League held its meetings, and the juvenile headquarters' officers are to be seen in the old meeting-place of the Lothian Club. The flasks and the haggis are supplanted by piles of juvenile literature, while the old time bar, at which the regular habitues of the premises were wont to foregather, is also devoted to the furtherance of the Army's operations.” [Advertiser 23 Feb 1899]
“An alteration has taken place in the staff of the Salvation Army, People's Palace, Pirie street. Matron Ensign Frost has been transferred to a similar position in Sydney, and Adjutant Harper from Melbourne, takes her place.” [Register 22 Jan 1916]
“The investigation of the conditions of the employee of hotels and coffee palaces. . . Staff Captain J. T. Ford of the Peoples Palace, Pirie street, said the establishment was carried on as a restaurant. They sold meals, let beds, and carried on on the restaurants award. They had found it difficult to carry on under that award at first, but now they were getting on all right.” [Daily Herald 20 Feb 1918]
“Staff-Capt. P. Dale (official architect of the Salvation Army) recently visited Adelaide and inspected the People's Palace in Pirie street. Salvation Army authorities hope to establish a modern building on the site of the existing premises. Capt. Dale has returned, to Melbourne, where plans for the new structure will be prepared.” [News 19 Feb 1929]
“Reconstruction work at the People's Palace, Pirie street. . . It is proposed to build three new stories on to the present structure. . . the building will also act as the divisional headquarters." [News 12 Mar 1929]
“Damage estimated at £5,000 was caused by a fire which broke out about 3.30 a.m. today in the People's Palace, conducted by the Salvation Army, in Pirie street, City. The upper story of the building was gutted, and only splendid work by the Adelaide Fire Brigade saved the structure from complete demolition. Forty-five guests who were sleeping on the first floor escaped in their night attire down the main stairway and the fire escape at the rear. Many of the guests lost their personal effects. The entire ceiling of the upper, story collapsed after the people had escaped into the street. Fifty of the 61 bedrooms in the palace were badly damaged by fire and water.” [News 19 Jan 1938]
“Tenders will be called this week for the remodelling and modernisation of the Salvation Army People's Palace in Pirie street. . . will include the addition of a third story. . . The existing Renaissance elevation to Pirie street will not be materially altered, but features of the design will be emphasised.” [News 4 Apr 1938]
“the Salvation Army People's Palace, in Pirie street. . . A tour of the building today with Mr. H. T. Griggs, architect for the £10,000 remodelling, showed how the beauties of moulded cornices and similar decorative features were lost when big rooms were divided into sleeping cubicles and other small apartments. . . In the internal reconstruction, the dignity of the work done by bygone artisans will be displayed again as far as possible.” [News 21 May 1938]
“the People's Palace. . . Re-constructed and enlarged at a cost of £12,000, it now provided modern accommodation for 107 guests.” [Advertiser 28 Nov 1938]
“New City Rest Room For Troops. Forty-eight hours after the idea was first suggested, a Red Shield rest room for soldiers has been opened at the People's Palace, Pirie street. The Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army (Brig. R. S. Harewood), who declared the room open, said it had been established because of the pressing need for more such rooms. Troops could call in at any time for tea and biscuits, to play games, write letters, or chat.” [News 26 Mar 1942]
“Postwar high wages and dear food caused many restaurants to close. . . the People's Palace, Pirie street, restricted meals to guests.” [The Mail 22 Nov 1952]
“In 1912 I boarded at the People's Palace. Pirie street, Adelaide, for 17/6 a week. They also supplied good clean and satisfying meals for sixpence.” [Advertiser 23 Dec 1954, Letter to Editor]
ALBERT HALL
Albert Hall opened 4 Oct 1880 behind German Club for entertainment & dancing, architect Beyer & Withall, renamed Memorial Hall by Salvation Army when they purchased German Club 1899, hall extended, destroyed by fire 1975, sold & site redeveloped as offices.
“A dinner, to be followed by a ball, is connection with the German Club will take place to-night in the new Albert Hall, Pirie-street.” [Register 4 Oct 1880]
“Adelaide Liedertafel. A Grand Concert will be given on Tuesday, October 12, in the new Albert Hall, German Club, Pirie-street, in aid of the Building Fund of same.” [Express & Telegraph 1 Oct 1880 advert]
“The opening of the new Albert Hall in connection with the German Club was celebrated on Monday, October 4, by a ball and banquet, upwards of 400 persons attending the former and nearly 200 sitting down to the latter. It is not many months since the spacious and handsome clubhouse in Pirie-street was formally opened, and the additions just completed were at that time contemplated. . . it was decided to construct a spacious and lofty concert hall, with a stage for ordinary entertainments, and a level floor for dancing. These are the purposes to which the Albert Hall will principally be devoted, but it may also be used for meetings and other gatherings of a public character. The building has been erected from designs by Messrs. Beyer and Withall.” [Advertiser 5 Oct 1880]
“The hall is 93 feet long by 48 feet wide, and 35 feet high, while the stage has a depth of 28 feet, the proscenium being 21 feet wide and 24 feet high; The main entrance to the hall is through the spacious centre passage of the clubhouse, and there are several exit doors, some of which will be utilised by-and-by to communicate with a gymnasium or other additions contemplated to be erected on the vacant block of ground in the rear. . A balcony or dress circle will also be added to the hall.” [Express & Telegraph 5 Oct 1880]
“The Adelaide Liedertafel gave a concert in the Albert Hall of the new German Clubhouse on Tuesday night, October 12, in aid of the Building Fund of the hall. There was a large attendance, and, as is always the case when our German friends give a musical entertainment, there was nothing wanting to make the concert a thorough success. The programme was of a high order, embracing selections from some of the best masters. . . A week ago the Albert Hall was formally opened by a ball, but its acoustic properties were not fairly put to the test till on this occasion.” [Evening Journal 13 Oct 1880]
“Professor J. H. Pepper has arranged to deliver under the auspices of the Chamber of Manufactures three popular science lectures in the Albert Hall, German Club-house, Pirie street.” [Advertiser 17 May 1881]
“Adelaide Orpheus Society.— The first concert arranged by this Society will be given in the Albert Hall to-night. . . A splendid programme has been arranged both as regards choruses and solos. The Society now numbers about fifty or sixty members, who have been carefully trained by Mr. C. J. Stevens.” Evening Journal 14 Jun 1888]
“Salvation Army. . . Considerable alterations and improvements have been made to the Headquarters Memorial Hall in Pirie-street, previously known as the Albert Hall under the auspices of the German Club. These comprise a new gallery affording seating accommodation for 250, a soldiers' platform holding 175 persons, and a new ceiling to improve the acoustic properties of the hall.” [Register 11 Aug 1900]