The Australian Hall on Elizabeth Street is a heritage building built in the Federation Romanesque architectural style. It was erected between 1910 and 1913 as a club for German migrants, known as the Concordia. The Knights of the Southern Cross, a right-wing Catholic fraternal lay group, purchased it in 1920 and constructed the Australian Hall in the building. They sold it in 1979 to the Hellenic Club and Greek Cypriots used it as the Cyprus Hellene Club. This is the site of the first national Aboriginal civil rights gathering convened by the Aborigines Progressive Association and held in 1938, known as the “Day of Mourning”. The building was purchased in 1999 by the Metropolitan Aboriginal Association Incorporated and refurbished, with the hall restored to its 1938 state. It is the first non-Aboriginal structure to be recognised in Australia as an Aboriginal heritage site. NAIDOC week, which this year runs from 3rd July to 11th July, is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians in various fields.
Now I am not thrilled by the architecture, at least what you can see from the front.
ReplyDeleteBut I am rapt in the idea of different groups using the one building for their own community's needs - German migrants, a Catholic society, Greek Cypriots and an Aboriginal Association. Each group was important at different times in Australia's history.
What a history, and what a beautiful mean to measure it.
ReplyDeletePlease have a good new week.
daily athens
What a beautiful building. I've never noticed it, even though I went to the Hellenic Club several times.
ReplyDeleteYes a very significant building and rightly should be a national heritage building. I also went here when it was the Hellenic Club but didn't realise the significance back then. I really like what Hels said, buildings and their uses can tell us so much about history and changing times.
ReplyDeleteHels, I was fascinated by both the architecture and the history.
ReplyDeleteThey look to have done a good job on the restoration. It was interesting to read your account of it's history.
ReplyDeletemy bro in law is an aboriginal ,may be he goes to this building.
ReplyDeletenice building.
ReplyDeleteFascinating history To the building Jim. Thanks for sharing your research. Today I enjoyed a wonderful NAIDOC Celebration.
ReplyDeleteI was up at the doctors and saw a NAIDOC parade today, didn't have my camera with me unfortunately. What an mixed history this building has had.
ReplyDeleteThis building sure has seen a lot of different nationalities come through it's doors Jim, so happy when they look after and restore building s like this.
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