Mary Porter is celebrating the re-opening of the Albert Hall after years of ACT government neglect required a major refurbishment.
“In 1949 Albert Hall also witnessed the first ever Citizenship Ceremony and the new Australians were welcomed to their adopted country by Prime Minister Ben Chifley and Australia’s first Minister for Immigration, Arthur Calwell.
“Among the most famous artists to perform was Dame Joan Sutherland and Albert Hall has also hosted countless concerts, eisteddfods, plays and musicals and for many years was home to the Canberra Repertory Society.
“The late Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth have also attended reception at Albert Hall.
“The refurbishment has been a major project and the Friends of Albert Hall have played a significant role in working with the ACT Government to restore Albert Hall to its original glory.
“The restoration work has included the retiling of the roof, repainting the interior and exterior, upgrading of the heating ventilation, air conditioning toilets and kitchen, and repolishing the floor, one of Canberra’s finest dancing surfaces.
RiotACT sources, however, are not at all impressed with the cowboy job done with the interior paintwork.
If you’re thinking about hiring the hall there’s a spiffy web page.
