White's Rooms

{{Short description|Building in Adelaide, Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{use Australian English|date=January 2023}} {{more footnotes|date=January 2023}} '''White's Rooms''', later known as '''Adelaide Assembly Room''', was a privately owned function centre which opened in 1856 on King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia. It became '''Garner's Theatre''' in 1880, then passed through several hands, being known as the '''Tivoli''' theatre, '''Bijou Theatre''', '''Star Picture Theatre''' and finally in 1916 the Majestic Theatre and Majestic Hotel.

==History== George White (1813 – 12 November 1876) was a Gloucestershire tailor who emigrated with his family to South Australia on the ''Royal Admiral'',{{efn|An assertion by a credible witness puts him aboard ''Tam o'Shanter'', which arrived in November 1836.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90624282 |title=Out among the People |newspaper=The Chronicle (Adelaide) |volume=LXXIII |issue=3,881 |location=South Australia |date=23 April 1931 |accessdate=16 March 2026 |page=52 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>}} arriving in Adelaide in January 1838. He set up a tailoring business in Hindley Street, then took up a position with William Pearce in Rundle Street. Pearce quit the business in May 1843, and White purchased much of his stock,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71628288 |title=Resident Magistrate's Court |newspaper=Southern Australian |volume=VII |issue=495 |location=South Australia |date=13 February 1844 |accessdate=4 April 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and around 1852 moved to larger premises in King William Street (which later became the public bar of the Clarence Hotel). His Assembly Rooms were opened on 26 June 1856 with a Grand Masonic Ball,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207093385 |title=Domestic News |newspaper=Adelaide Times |volume=X |issue=1738 |location=South Australia |date=27 June 1856 |accessdate=4 April 2016 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and were for many years the only place of public entertainment in the city. Musicians who hired the hall for public concerts included: *Lynch Family bellringers 1871

James Allison, better known for his association with Samuel Lazar and the Theatre Royal, was in 1877 lessee of the rooms.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40792242 |title=The Month's News |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XLII |issue=9494 |location=South Australia |date=19 April 1877 |accessdate=13 May 2017 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In 1878 Thomas Waterhouse purchased the property from George White's estate, and it remained in that family for many decades.<ref name=wr1916/>

===The rooms=== thumb|White's Rooms, Clarence Hotel and Wesleyan Book Depot c.{{nbsp}}1870 The building at 80–88 King William Street was designed by George Kingston. Its Assembly Room was {{convert|41|x|86|ft|m}} with a {{convert|30| ft|m|adj=mid|-high}} ceiling,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49751384 |title=Grand Masonic Ball in Mr. White's New Room |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XX |issue=3036 |location=South Australia |date=27 June 1856 |accessdate=14 August 2016 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and the complex included offices, retail business spaces and an Arbitration Room, where daytime auction sales, meetings, and other gatherings were held, and was co-located with the Clarence Hotel.

The place was remodelled several times to keep abreast of the competition, (one major upgrade was superintended by E. J. Woods)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39259974 |title=White's Assembly Rooms |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XXXVII |issue=7880 |location=South Australia |date=17 February 1872 |accessdate=29 March 2016 |page=4 (Supplement to the South Australian Register.) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

===The restaurant=== Below the main hall, founded in 1856 and attached to the Clarence Hotel, was Bayston & Aldridge's restaurant, from November 1858 solely managed by George Aldridge.<ref>George Aldridge (c. 1817 – 12 December 1879) who arrived in South Australia in 1847, was grandfather of Percy Grainger and father of James Henry Aldridge (1849–1929) the horse breeder and George Sydney Aldridge (ca.1847–1911) chairman of the Stock Exchange.</ref> It was here that John McDouall Stuart was given a grand reception, presided by Sir Dominick Daly, on the evening of 21 January 1863, on his return from crossing the continent from south to north.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158478884 |title=Crossing the Continent : Stuart Expedition Jubilee |newspaper=Sydney Mail |issue=17 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=24 July 1912 |accessdate=4 April 2016 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Then in 1868 Aldridge left to take over the restaurant associated with the new theatre in Hindley Street, and F. W. Lindrum, father of Frederick and Walter Lindrum, took it over, naming it "Shades" or "Adelaide Shades". One of the large underground halls was set up by him as a billiard saloon, the finest in the city.

===Subsequent history=== thumb|Star Theatre and Clarence Hotel c.{{nbsp}}1914 In 1880 White's Rooms was remodelled by George Gordon to become Garner's Theatre, for entrepreneur Arthur Garner with Wybert Reeve the theatre manager.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43110978 |title=Garner's Theatre |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XLV |issue=10,453 |location=South Australia |date=14 May 1880 |accessdate=3 April 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> It was not entirely successful, and the name reverted somewhat to Garner's Rooms. It has been asserted that the change of name was to avoid losing patronage of the Wesleyans, to whom the word "theatre" connoted sin and blasphemy, no matter what the performance may be.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140950912 |title=Our Adelaide Letter. |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate |issue=12,081 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=1 August 1892 |accessdate=1 July 2018 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In 1884 T. P. Hudson took over the lease, and after more redecoration reopened the theatre as The Bijou. Among its users between 1890 and 1899 were the Garrick Club theatre group and the South Australian Literary Societies' Union.

Harry Rickards became the next proprietor in 1900, demolishing much of the old structure<ref name=bijou>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162416828 |title=The Bijou Theatre |newspaper=Adelaide Observer |volume=LVII |issue=3,052 |location=South Australia |date=31 March 1900 |accessdate=29 March 2016 |page=30 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and renaming it The Tivoli.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208926454 |title=New Tivoli Theatre |newspaper=The Express and Telegraph |volume=XXXVII |issue=11,004 |location=South Australia |date=21 June 1900 |accessdate=3 April 2016 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> It closed in August 1913 to reopen as the New Tivoli Theatre in Grote Street. Bud Atkinson promptly took over the lease and in September 1913 it became the Star Theatre, a cinema screening a one-hour programme continuously from 11 am to 10.30 pm daily.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105590716 |title=The Star Theatre |newspaper=Daily Herald |volume=IV |issue=1074 |location=South Australia |date=30 August 1913 |accessdate=3 April 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> It closed in November 1915, but was the start of a chain of movie theatres.<ref>Dylan Walker ''Adelaide's Silent Nights'' National Film and Sound Archive {{ISBN|0 642 25238 6}}</ref>

In 1916 the building, and the Clarence Hotel, were demolished to become the Majestic Theatre and hotel.<ref name=wr1916>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87245731 |title=White's Rooms |newspaper=The Chronicle |volume=LVIII |issue=2,998 |location=South Australia |date=5 February 1916 |accessdate=29 March 2016 |page=31 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In 1928 Sir Benjamin Fuller, John Fuller and Bert Lennon purchased the theatre from the owners A. E. and F. Tolley.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56631461 |title=Majestic Buildings |newspaper=The Register (Adelaide) |volume=XCIII |issue=27,092 |location=South Australia |date=14 June 1928 |accessdate=4 April 2016 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==Some notable uses and users== *The annual full-dress Masonic Ball was the first event held in the Rooms, and was held there every succeeding year until 1863. *The Bachelors' Balls were held there *Adelaide Educational Institution held their prizegivings there each June and December. *The Horticultural and Floricultural Society held exhibitions there. *It served as a meeting hall for the Rev. Silas Mead for twelve months while the Flinders Street Baptist Church was being built. *A public breakfast was tendered to McDouall Stuart in White's Rooms on the return of his party's fourth expedition into the interior. *The annual meeting of the Bible Society was held there. *The South Australian Institute, whose library was then in Neales Buildings, King William-street, held its quarterly soiree in White's Rooms; entertainment being provided by artistes such as Miss Tozer (afterwards Mrs Peryman), Miss Chalker, Miss Rowe, and Miss Bryan. *Visiting artistes Henry Farquharson, Anna Bishop, Charles Lascelles, the Carandini Company (Marie Carandini and her two daughters Rosina and Fanny, and Walter Sherwin), and the Beaumont and Wilkinson Concert Company. *Messrs. Horace Poussard and Rene Douay, who composed and performed ''Dead Heroes'', as a tribute to the ill-starred Burke and Wills. *Carl Linger, who composed the music to the ''Song of Australia'' was a frequent performer, and in September 1863 a concert was held in his memory. *A concert was given by the Adelaide Philharmonic Society for the benefit of the widow and child of R. B. White, the leader of the Society, who, with several others, was drowned while crossing the Gulf on a holiday excursion. The soloists were Mesdames Harris and Peryman, Mr. E. H. Hallack, and C. Lyons. *Fritz Heydecke (who was lost with the ''Sultana'') and R. W. Kohler<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article825203 |title=Mr. R. W. Kohler's Concert |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |volume=III |issue=704 |location=South Australia |date=17 October 1860 |accessdate=5 April 2016 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> were popular local instrumentalists, staged regular concerts. *Tragedians Boothroyd Fairclough and Walter Montgomery gave recitals there; Mary Frances Scott-Siddons made her first appearance before an Adelaide audience there; *The Majeroni Company appeared in various plays and comic operas *Rev. Charles Clark gave his popular lectures in White's Rooms<ref name=bijou/>

Reports that Adelaide City Council meetings were held there during construction of the Town Hall, are spurious.

==Family== George White (1813 – 12 November 1876) married Eliza Baxter (1814 – 16 August 1888) in Gloucestershire on 24 November 1834; with children Charles and Jane emigrated to South Australia on the ''Royal Admiral'', which arrived in South Australia in January 1838.

White was a keen gardener and viticulturist: his vineyard and formal garden later became the suburb of Rosefield.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164887756 |title=Notable Old-time Landmarks |newspaper=The Observer |volume=LXXXV |issue=4,443 |location=South Australia |date=18 August 1928 |accessdate=29 March 2016 |page=38 |via=National Library of Australia}} Includes photos of the inside of the assembly room and George's garden.</ref>

*Charles White (1835 – 30 June 1891) was one of the leading tailors of Adelaide, for some time as partner with William Bishop jr., as White & Bishop of King William Street. He married Margaret Ann Chapman (c. 1839 – 14 July 1867); they had four daughters; her only son died of measles; she died six days later. Charles married again, to Adolphina Miller ( – ) on 15 April 1871; they had two more children.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198412871 |title=Obituary. |newspaper=Evening Journal |volume=XXIII |issue=6488 |location=South Australia |date=9 July 1891 |accessdate=29 March 2016 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> *Jane White (1837 – 1907) married Charles Pearce ( – ) *Richard Baxter White RAM (1839 – 23 June 1872) married Rosalie Elizabeth Caroline Reich ( –1880) in 1865. He was a noted violinist and music teacher, leader of the Adelaide Philharmonic Society;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56654088 |title="Judas Maccabeus" |newspaper=The Register (Adelaide) |volume=LXVIII |issue=17,608 |location=South Australia |date=21 April 1903 |accessdate=27 August 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> lost presumed drowned in Gulf St. Vincent when yacht ''Sultana'' capsized.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63919738 |title=Old-time Yachting Tragedy |newspaper=The Register (Adelaide) |volume=LXXXVII |issue=25,436 |location=South Australia |date=6 July 1922 |accessdate=5 April 2016 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Rosalie was a daughter of Johann Carl Christian Reich. *George Benjamin White (1841 – 20 December 1878) married Sarah Bignell (c. 1850 – 17 December 1879), ran hotel at Truro. After his death she managed the Queen's Head Hotel; died of peritonitis twelve months later, after taking poison as abortifacient.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94751040 |title=Coroner's Inquest |newspaper=South Australian Chronicle And Weekly Mail |volume=XXII |issue=1,113 |location=South Australia |date=20 December 1879 |accessdate=4 April 2016 |page=21 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> *Sarah Ann White (1843 – 26 April 1899) married Charles Augustus Bleechmore ( – ) on 14 September 1865 *Emily Baxter White (1847 – 14 July 1923) married William Thomas Phillis ( – c. 20 February 1909) on 5 March 1874, ran farm at Snowtown *Henry White (1849 – 23 June 1872) missing, presumed drowned, with brother Richard. *Harriett Baxter White (1854 – c. 28 April 1905) married Arthur Franklin ( – ), lived at Magill Road, *Frederick William White (3 May 1858 – 1935) married Mary Louisa Wilcox ( – ) on 28 May 1885*

==Sources== *[http://www.pioneerssa.org.au/files/28%20White%20APPROVED.pdf Pioneers Association of South Australia: George White] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229185830/http://www.pioneerssa.org.au/files/28%20White%20APPROVED.pdf |date=29 February 2016 }}

==Notes== {{notelist}} ==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Assembly rooms Category:History of Adelaide Category:1856 establishments in Australia Category:Demolished buildings and structures in South Australia Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1916