Avalon Theatre, University of Queensland

On 19 April 1889 George Murphy purchased two parcels of land. Allotments 36 and 93 on one deed and allotments 35 and 94-97 on the other. These totalled just over 35 perches and two roods and twenty five perches respectively. Murphy remained owner of this property until his death in 1921. 

It would appear that Murphy did not live at St Lucia. His occupation, business and residential address are given in the Post Office Directories (PODs) of 1910-11 as "Accountant, London Bank Chambers, 62 Creek, Brisbane" and "Windermere Rd, Hamilton". He was also listed as a Justice of the Peace. After his death the property was administered by the Union Trustee Company of Australia Limited until March 1923 when it was transferred to Queensland Trustees Limited.

According to historian John Kerr, the hall's origins lay in local the Anglican parishioner's need for a Sunday school in the early 1920s. An agreement was reached with the local community that the Toowong parish council would purchase land for a hall and the community would meet the cost of its construction and also repay the cost of the land. Fundraising followed and, after the demise of the first building committee and the establishment of a second, the hall was eventually constructed in 1923 at a cost of approximately £430 plus £115 to provide a piano, seating and lighting.1

Unfortunately it became apparent the Church could not afford to keep the hall and in 1926 it was sold to the St Lucia Improvement and Debating Society for £500 on the basis that it could still be used on Sundays for services (there being no Anglican church in the community at that time)  and Sunday school. It became known as the St Lucia Progress Hall. However it was not until the POD of 1927-28 that a "School of Arts" was shown in the listing for St Lucia Road, St Lucia. In addition the Refidex street directory of 1926-27 listed the "St Lucia Show Hall".

According to oral history sources the hall was built on stumps with a small verandah and "hosted the annual Progress Association's Show". Ground clearance was sufficient that the show lunch could be served under the hall. It was also used for other community occasions such as welcome home celebrations for returning servicemen. The hall was lowered at a later date, likely at the time of the addition of the Art Deco style facade.

 

The building remained a community hall until the immediate post war period. While it had served as a cinema during WWII, in May 1947 the Brisbane City Council received an application to convert the building into a "Picture Hall."  The application was approved and the POD of 1949 shows the "Esquire Cinema" operating at St Lucia Road, St Lucia. By the mid 1950s the theatre was known as the "St Lucia Theatre."

By the time the hall assumed its new role, suburban picture theatres were an important part of the suburban landscape within Brisbane and other Queensland towns and cities. They provided convenient entertainment for local communities where public and private transport was limited or not available.

In July 1956 the property was sold to Henry and Dorothy Endres. An application was made and approval granted in 1958 to extend the theatre and to relax the ordinance regarding the requirement of a ceiling to be 20 feet (the theatre had only 18 foot ceilings). 

The post war period saw an expansion of the St Lucia area. Residential expansion was primarily propelled by the growth of the University of Queensland. The concomitant success of the theatre was short lived as the property was acquired by the University of Queensland in February 1963. In 1975 the building was put into service as a teaching space by the University.

1. John Kerr, Christ Church St Lucia 40 Years. pp.6-7

2. Brisbane City Council Sewerage Detail Plans

3. Brisbane City Council Building Card Records

4. City of Brisbane Register of New Buildings for Month Ending 30th June 1926

5. Certificates of Title.

6. Estate Maps. "Hyde Park, Toowong." John Oxley Estate Map No: 2542, 2543 & 2544

7. History of St Lucia. Cr. J. Magub Compiler. (1998; St Lucia Festival. St Lucia)

8. Information proved by the St Lucia History Group. Which included extracts from John Kerr's, Christ Church St Lucia 40 years 2002 & other transcripts.

9. Post Office Directories

10. Queensland Government Gazette. 1921

11. Refidex Directory Maps: Greater Brisbane Area. (c1926-27)

12. Reports and Proceedings of Brisbane City Council. July 1958 - June 1959