Society > A Public Space? > Elder’s Hall: A Neutral Public Space
Elder’s Hall: A Neutral Public Space
Most communities have a social focus, where people gather naturally. Without a Town Hall, Pyrmont and Ultimo never had such a centre: The Illustrated Sydney News reported on 25 July 1889, “the public buildings of Pyrmont and Ultimo are few, and in no way remarkable – two or three churches and some public schools, etc. None call for more than casual mention.” Social centres were identified with jobs (e.g. pubs like The Butchers’ Arms), sports, or congregations (like St Bede’s).
There was one brief exception. Through the 1890s, Elder’s Hall in Union Street was Pyrmont’s favourite public space, favoured by Protestants and Catholics, political aspirants, boxers and people keeping fit. This two-storey building, fronted by shops and partly occupied by residents, had a gymnasium and a supper-room. It was – according to the Australian Star 26 October 1903 – “the principal meeting place in Pyrmont”.
This was too good to last. Fire broke out at midnight on Sunday, 25 October 1903. Fire brigade steamers rushed from Redfern. One broke down, but the crew arrived, extinguished the fire in half an hour, and saved the nearby buildings. Elder’s Hall itself was destroyed.
The inquest into the fire suggests how the building was used (Sunday Sun, 8 November 1903; Australian Star, 11 November 1903). It was lit by kerosene, gas and candles. Joseph Cassidy, the lessee, lived on the premises with his family. Cassidy had two tenants: one shop leased to a hairdresser and picture frame-maker; another to a tobacconist. Their dispute over the price of tobacco probably sparked the disaster. Access was easy: two children played hide and seek on the afternoon before the fire. On Sundays people played cards in the gym.
This was a modest building struggling to cater to diverse interests.
And it was not rebuilt.
