The home of civic and cultural activities in the national capital, Albert Hall was opened in 1928, the year after Parliament House. It was Canberra’s concert hall, theatre, exhibition space and the venue for lectures, balls and socials. As the place for civic assembly, it housed congresses, conferences and protest meetings.
Opening the building on 10 March 1928, Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne Bruce declared Albert Hall would encourage ‘everything that will uplift the Australian people – a centre from which will radiate all those aspirations that are truly national’ (Canberra Times, 12 March 1928).
What follows is a photo album showing the rich life of Albert Hall between 1927 and 1970. For more information and records about Albert Hall in the National Archives, see Fact Sheet 250 – Albert Hall, Canberra.
Construction of Albert Hall, with bowling green in the foreground, 1927
Albert Hall with 'Bellona' statue on Commonwealth Avenue, 1929
Forestry conference delegates at Albert Hall, 1928
Citizenship convention delegates at the front of Albert Hall, 1955
Harold Holt speaking at the Australian Citizenship Convention, 1956
Debutantes and their partners take the floor at Albert Hall, 1956
Sadlers' Wells Royal Ballet perform at Albert Hall, August 1958
Prime Minister Robert Menzies at the Australian Citizenship Convention, 1960
Television presenters broadcast federal election results for the first time, 1963
The Royal Military College band at the citizenship convention, 1965
Young Finnish dancers at a festival celebration in Albert Hall, 1965
The first ACT land auction, held at Albert Hall in 1970