The Athelstone Community Hall is located at 1 Maryvale Road, Athelstone. It was built in 1870 and was known as the Athelstone Institute.

Members of the local community established a Mutual Improvement Society in 1868, holding meetings in the Wesleyan Chapel and the Athelstone Schoolroom. The Society applied for membership of the SA Institutes Association in September 1868, indicating that they ‘wanted to form a library and erect a building suitable for the purposes of an Institute and a Schoolroom. A good amount of support (in the form of) subscriptions in money and value were promised…but (they) now wanted to have a good supply of books and more conveniences for classes’ (Transcription from S. A. Archives – copy in Campbelltown Local History collection). It was intended to build the Institute near the Wesleyan Chapel on land donated by Mrs A. Fox

Henry Hersey reports in his diary that at a meeting held on 25 August 1868, the rules of the Institute were adopted. 22 members of the Mutual Improvement Society joined. Trustees were Messrs J. G. Coulls, A. F. Boord, H. E. Downer, Abraham Russell and J. McLeod. Mr H. E. Silke was elected President, Henry Hersey Vice-President, Mr. John Miller treasurer and secretary. The Committee included Messrs Ford, W. Russell, A. F. Boord, R. Emery and Best.

Community events were held to raise money for the building during the years to 1870 and beyond, such as the following advertised in the Adelaide Observer, Saturday 10 December 1864, page 8.

Above is the advertisement for the foundation stone ceremony in the South Australian Register, Thursday 14 April 1870 page 1. Henry Hersey records in his diary that ‘The place was crowded and everything went off very well’. Although the advertisement promised three hot air balloons, there is no evidence that they were launched on the day. See this article to read more about Hot Air Balloons over Campbelltown.

The foundation stone of the building was laid on Easter Monday, April 18, 1870 by Miss Theresa Fox during a community picnic event. The article in the South Australian Register on the next day reported that  a document was placed under the foundation stone recording the event and the names of the Committee.

South Australian Register, Tuesday 19 April 1870, page 5  

Three cheers were given for the Queen (Queen Victoria), and three for Miss Fox and the band played God Save the Queen. Miss Fox was presented with the silver trowel she used to lay the foundation stone. 

The architect  was Rowland Rees who was also the architect for other Adelaide buildings including houses in North Adelaide, Glenelg, ‘Downer House’, home of Sir John Downer (now part of St Marks College) and the Huntsman Hotel in North Adelaide.

Henry Hersey records in his diary that on 8 December 1869, ‘The young men carted stone for the Institute today. I went just to look at them in the evening.’

Marjorie Burns documented in the ‘Campbelltown Outlook’, Autumn 2005 p10, that the ‘original building was 42 feet x 24 feet (12.8mx7.3metres) built with Tapley’s Hill Bluestone with eight side windows. The original design is recorded as having a Norman façade, gable front, circular-hooded doorway with columns and circular-headed and moulded windows.’ (Also reported in the Adelaide Register, 18 April 1870)

Photograph by Townsend Duryea, approximately 1870, State Library of South Australia B 304

Chronology

1864-1869 Committee established and fundraising events held to raise money to erect the building. An inaugural soirée was held on January 26, 1869 when a range of activities including lectures, readings, recitals and musical items were given. The Chairman commented that there was ‘great desirability in erecting a suitable building’ with more than 50 members subscribing and ‘extended use of the library’. Sir James Fergusson, Governor of South Australia agreed to be the Institute Patron.

1868 Athelstone Institute established, member of the Institutes Association of SA

1870 April 18 Foundation stone laid by Miss Theresa Fox. Debate in the South Australian Parliament regarding funding of the Institutes around the state lead to a grant of £150 ($300) to Athelstone

1871 March 9 Opening of the building when entertainment was provided to a large (and fashionable) crowd. The Norwood Amateur Dramatic Society gave their first performance at the Institute on 26 December 1871

1872-1897 Used as a school room before the first government primary school was built on Gorge Road in 1901 (Burns 2005). Monthly events and entertainments were held in the evenings. The Hon H E Downer was Chairman of the Trustees from 1891, an office he held for a number of years. A dead mouse found in the well raised concerns for the health of the children at the school in 1893!

1895 October 17 The Athelstone Quadrille Assembly held a Masquerade evening and fancy dress ball at the Institute. Quiz and Lantern 17 October 1895 reported that 35 couples attended

1896 June 25 A meeting was held to discuss preparation of a petition to government for the establishment of a public school as Athelstone Institute was no longer suitable (Potts p6)

1898 Tenders called for a new floor which eventually cost £30 ($60)

1915 Repairs to outhouses and front steps (Potts p6)

1918 Fete held to raise funds to erect a memorial for WWI soldiers resident in Campbelltown

The Advertiser Monday 25 November 1918 page 10

1920 War Memorial porch with tablets in memory of residents who fought in WWI erected. Activities in the Institute during the 1920s included 21st birthday parties, election meetings, dances and balls. Fetes and fairs were popular daylight activities

1929 Extensions opened at the cost of £450 ($900) including two extra cloakrooms (Robert Potts p7), and a stage
January 1934 Bushfires close by ‘practically up to the walls of the Athelstone Institute’, reported in The Advertiser below.

The Advertiser, Saturday 20 January 1934 page 17

1947 Events held to support the post World War II Food for Britain campaign

1951-2 Name changed to Athelstone Community Hall and ownership transferred from the local Committee to the City of Campbelltown

1954-64 Upgrades to the building including a stage, cloakrooms and toilets (Robert Potts p7-8)

1975 Floor replacement

1978 Louvre windows replaced (Potts p8)

1980s Refurbishment of the kitchen and repairs to the northern wall (Potts p9). An honour board commemorating Campbelltown soldiers who died in the World War II and Vietnam conflicts was erected

1980 The  Athelstone branch library opened in December 1980 as part of the Athelstone Community Centre following a $72,000 grant from state government.

2001 $250,000 restoration, funded by the Campbelltown Council (Burns)

2002 Addition of a carport and rose garden

A photo of the Athelstone Community Hall
(formerly Athelstone Institute)
in 2002

2012 Building changed from a library to a community centre

A Floor plan of the Athelstone Community Hall (formerly Athelstone Institute)
showing the phases of building work undertaken. 
Floor plan drawn by Robert Potts.

Researched and compiled by Di Booker, a volunteer with the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group.

If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact Helen on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au

REFERENCES

1. Athelstone Institute Folder, LH SU 00013. Campbelltown Library Local History Collection
2. Burns, Marjorie Athelstone Community Hall a hub for our early settlers in Campbelltown Outlook, Autumn 2005, page 10
3. Hersey, Henry (1868-1875) Diary held in Campbelltown Library Local History Collection
4. Potts, Robert 1990 A short history of the Athelstone Community Hall, formerly the Athelstone Institute built 1870 (unpublished) Campbelltown Library Local History Collection