When prominent politician and editor of the Advertiser Sir John Langdon Bonython died in 1939, the clock he donated to the Adelaide Town Hall stopped working, and nobody knows why.
This story and more are part of a unique Open House tour of the Adelaide Town Hall held later this month, in conjunction with the About Time: SA History Festival.
Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said the Open House program will give people an opportunity connect with local history and learn about the lives and times of the people who helped shape the state.
“Sometimes it takes an invitation for people to see our landmark buildings in a new light, and there couldn’t be a better time to be thinking about our city’s future,” Stephen said.
History SA CEO and festival coordinator Margaret Anderson said she was absolutely delighted with the response from more than 45 businesses and organisations who will open their doors as part of the program.
“By having conversations with each other about the way our city has evolved we start to build a sense of what we would like to see in the future, and how our heritage is part of that,” Ms Anderson said.
Glen Woodward has been running Town Hall tours for more than 20 years. He says Town Hall has had its share of regal events with more than 30 royal visits throughout the years.
“When Queen Elizabeth visited in 1954 she got a speck of dust in her eye and had to retire to the Queen Adelaide Room, where a gentleman removed the speck – he used a white handkerchief I think – but that’s all written down in the history books,” Mr Woodward said.
Festival goers can expect a lively tour of the Hall’s interior rooms, with information about its design and construction.
“If people walk away having learnt something about the city that they didn’t know and feel more connected with the place, that would be a great outcome for us,” Ms Anderson said.
Saturday May 19: 1 pm – 4 pm (tours at 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm)
Sunday May 20: 10 am – 1 pm (tours at 10 am, 11 am and 12 noon)
Adelaide Town Hall, King William Street, Adelaide
Contact: Adelaide City Council Customer Centre 82037203 or visit www.openhouseadelaide.com.au
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