Our History: Burnside Ballroom Goes Platinum
Officially opened on Saturday 11 December 1954 by Mayor J H Parkinson, the Burnside Ballroom is this year celebrating its milestone 70th birthday.
With the interior of the building on the State Heritage List, the Ballroom is an iconic building in the history of the City of Burnside and the wider Adelaide region. Mostly untouched since its unveiling, there are few known examples of this modernist style of interior left in South Australia, with most of the Ballroom’s fixtures and fittings still in their original condition.
The Ballroom was originally built to accommodate the growing population, as the Burnside Town Hall was unable to handle the increasing numbers. The residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of the concept and the construction took place over twelve months at a cost of £32,000. Architects Evans, Bruers, Philpott & Partners designed the building and Fricker Brothers Limited were contracted for construction.
The Ballroom offers a spacious ground floor and mezzanine level, entrance foyer, ladies’ powder rooms and gentlemen’s cloakrooms, bar areas on both levels and a ground floor kitchen. The venue also features a stage and seating booths with tables along the eastern and western walls. As an additional wing to the 1928 Town Hall and Council Chambers, the exterior was designed to complement the existing Inter-War Free Classical architecture. The interior is an exceptional example of 1950s modernist design, with art-deco style proscenium, vinyl seating booths, and decorative metalwork.
A high-quality venue with world-class features, the Ballroom was a popular hot spot for many in the community. In the three weeks alone following its grand opening, the Ballroom hosted three balls, three concerts, and a radio show. The space also became the home of the Princeton Club, a popular venue for teenagers from across Adelaide in the 1960s.
Established in 2020, the City of Burnside Heritage Reference Group was created to discuss and propose strategies and projects that identify, promote, preserve, and enhance the City of Burnside’s built and cultural heritage including the Ballroom.
One member of the Heritage Reference Group is Colin Harris. For Colin, the Burnside Ballroom holds a special place in his heart and history, having had his first date with his wife Elizabeth at a Burnside Ballroom event.
Following their date at a Girton Girls’ School (now Pembroke School) Old Scholars Ball in 1965, the two were married in 1969.
‘For us, the Burnside Ballroom was the start of a wonderful partnership with two daughters. Whenever I see the Ballroom my thoughts go back to that date,’ Colin said.
A third-generation Burnside resident, Colin is also a Former President and now Life Member of the Burnside Historical Society and a Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society of South Australia.
Today, the Ballroom continues to be a popular community space for parties, musical events, concerts, exercise classes, volunteer celebrations and civic receptions. Annual events in the Ballroom include the Japanese Cultural Day and the upcoming Annual Glenside Lions Art Show. It has also played host to music acts such as the Penny Rockets, Vonnie Jay, The Clefs, Fraternity, the Twilights and John Farnham.
