History

a community hall erected on the site, now 2 Marian Street, Killara, in 1906. Its history before that time is that of a piece of land, part of a larger estate, which was never used for residential purposes.

The land formed part of a Crown Grant of 160 acres in Gordon Parish (Portion 392) made in 1839 to the Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang, the prominent Presbyterian Clergyman, and James Bradley. These men were understood to be trustees for Bradley’s daughter, Jane. Although Jane and her father lived in the district, they made little use of the land; on their death, it was divided among members of the MacGilliveray (the name of Jane’s husband) family. (1)

The district was initially given over to timber-getting; later, citrus orchards were planted. Not until the 1870’s (and increasingly in the 1880’s) did settlement from the city and consequent land subdivision, occur. With the advent of the Hornsby – St Leonard’s railway in 1890 (itself the result of local agitation), the early large land grants and later accumulations were opened for subdivision.

One such developer was James George Edwards (1843-1926), grandson of the pioneer Robert Pymble. Edwards had acquired most of the fragmented MacGilliveray holdings, adding land of his own to form the Springdale estate. That the new railway ran through it was no disadvantage. Edwards was one of the strongest proponents of railway construction in the area. (2)

The North Shore railway was extended from St Leonards to Milsons Point and the harbour in 1893, thus dispelling its nickname ‘the railway to nowhere’. But there was no station at Killara. Consequently, the demand for residential there was not great.

In 1890 part of the Springdale estate was made over to Edwards’ wife, Rebecca and a Melbourne associate, James Grimes. They broke up the land into three portions, the smallest of which, 33 acres, was on the western side of the new railway, which went along an embankment then through a cutting (crossed over by MacGilliveray Road) at this sector. The edge of the portion was formed by the Lane Cover Road (Pacific Highway from 1928). In 1891 Grimes sold his interest to Henry Hazlett of Waverley. In 1896 the whole area was acquired by Marshall Warwick Jackson, who began an extensive subdivision. (DP’s 3262, 3263).

Jackson gained success on the eastern side of the line. It was only in 1899 that a more precise subdivision of the western portion began to pay off.

By this time, Marian Street had been plotted through the 33 acre block from Lane Cove Road to the railway. Some 45 lots were marked out some of which had been pre-sold in 1896. James G. Edwards was already a resident of Marian Street North. (3)

With the station at the newly-named Killara in 1900 (Edwards claimed credit for the name) and a reviving economy, there was a good chance that even in the low lying or hilly portions of the western part of the estate would sell. They did so. In 1902 Stephen Edward Perdriau, a surveyor, bought Lot 27 in Marian Street, south side, the present No. 2. Perdiau did not buy any other allotments in this block so he was clearly not acquiring a large estate. But he did not build in this long strip, with the watercourse at the end farthest from Marian Street, at its 99 feet frontage. Instead, he sold it in 1905 to the Killara Hall Company Limited. The site had begun its career as a public amenity. (4)

followed by the arrival of a post office, a policeman, a bank and several shops. Good houses were being built on Marian Street. By 1905, there were seven on the north side between ‘Gordon Road’ and the station; on the south there were three up to the Congregational Church. This mirrored the situation elsewhere in the new suburb. Some kind of community hall was the natural response. (5)

On 10 July 1906, Spain and Cosh, architects in Pitt Street, called for tenders for the erection of a hall in Marian Street. On 11 September, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that:

“A large hall is being erected in Marian Street, Killara, for the Killara Hall Company, Limited. The accommodation will consist of a hall 75 ft by 35 ft, with a stage 35ft by 15ft, cloakrooms, supper-room, kitchen and four rooms for the caretaker. The building is being built on brick, with galvanised roof and the joinery throughout is to be in pine. The cost will be about fifteen hundred pounds. The contractors are Messrs Stewart and Williams, and the architects Messrs Spain and Gosh.” (6)

Spain and Gosh were mentioned in the same issue of the Herald as the architects of the second part of Grace Brothers, Broadway. They had only come together in 1904 but both, though comparatively young, had considerable experience. With additional partners, they were to create many important city buildings. Spain became also a notable company director and a militia engineer. The Hall project was a routine commission for rising and ambitious men. (7)

The activities within the new Hall are not clear. The Deputy Town Clerk, looking into the building’s history in 1965, could find no relevant Council records. That the original plans had not been completed is indicated by the Herald report of 21 June, 1910, that further work was to be carried out. These ‘additions’ and ‘improvements ‘ included the ‘erection of a supper-room with balconies’. The architect was Oliver Harley and the builder R. Blundell. (8)

Harley was a locally based architect who lived in Marian Street. He was about to supervise the building, to his design, of the first section of the Willoughby School of Arts and was busy on half a dozen residences on the North Shore line.

His contribution to the Hall seems to have been the completion of the supper-room, which had formed part of the Spain and Cosh plan. (9)

The Hall, a substantial suburban building for its time and setting, continued to serve as a centre for local community activities and entertainment in the growing suburb. That the Company continued to mortgage may have been a sign of financial difficulty. There are suggestions that it was busy promoting the showing of the now popular silent films. (10)

On 16 August, 1918, the Hall was transferred to a group of important local citizens as joint tenants: George Frederick Birks, Alexander Petrie Campbell, Leopold Charlton, William Dixson, William Percy Maschiwitz, Frank Middows and Gustavius Athol Waterhouse. They were to hold the property until 1931. (11)

The Deputy Town Clerk suggested in 1965, that the local consortium took over, contributing their own funds and raising a loan, to prevent the Hall being devoted to films, to the detriment of community activities. Doubtless his sources were accurate. But not wholly so. The Hall at once became the Memorial Hall for returned servicemen and the headquarters of the Ku-ring-gai branch of the RSSAILA (now RSL). Founded during World War I, the League existed not only to perpetuate the spirt of Anzac and to promote fellowship, it had also the more prosaic aim of asserting the nights and privilegess of ex-servicemen in the civilian world. The Hall became its meeting place as well as a place for memorialising those who had lost their lives. To provide such a venue was certainly an aim of those citizens, who were, in addition, aware that donations to a war memorial attracted tax concessions.

community North Shore theatrical company. By 1965 his plan had been realised. A board of directors was devised in the chambers of John Kerr, Q.C. With Archdale as theatrical director, the board of the Community Theatre Company Limited consisted of Kerr, David Griffin, Betty Archdale, Ruth Cracknell and Patrick White – a distinguished group. (16)

Negotiations were undertaken in 1966 for the leasing of the Memorial Hall. The Council put aside its repair plans to confront the new situation. Believing that ‘a Community Theatre is as much a community activity as sporting fields and libraries … it does seem to be a valid use of Council’s premises to encourage the formation of such a Theatre’, Council agreed to cooperate. (17)

From 1966 the Hall was leased to the Community Theatre Company, with renewal options. The Company would be responsible for repairs and maintenance, though Council would assist with roof renewal. Efforts would be made to accommodate other community organisations and activities.

The Deputy Town Clerk provided Council with a description of the Hall at the time of the Company’s reception of the lease. A summary shows, on the Marian Street Level a main hall (seating capacity 400) and stage. On the railway side at this level, the Smoke Room and verandah, with cloak rooms at each end. Under the verandah was a Supper Room (seating 100). Stairs from the Supper Room, at the far end from Marian Street, gave access to the vehicular driveway on the railway side.

Off the Supper Room was the Kitchen. On the Highway side of the Kitchen was the Bridge Room (seating capacity 50). The Supper Room and Bridge Room were connected by a passageway. There was a Store Room behind the passageway. The Caretaker’s quarters consisted of two bedrooms within the Hall building and four more rooms in a separate, adjoining annexe. There were parking facilities and outdoor toilets in the rear of the property. (18)

It is not the purpose of the survey to provide a detailed history of the Marian Street Theatre, as it was called from 1974. Marian Street Theatre was a vigorous and creative semi-professional theatre. It maintained a strong existence and gained wide renown in Sydney. The Theatre, its drama school and, later, its children ‘s theatre, gained a wide reputation. Inevitably, it had its ups and downs and it was always difficult to produce a steady income. Nevertheless the Theatre undertook two major building operations, with some aid from the State Government and a very large contribution (c $300,000) from the Council. The result was the overhaul of the Main Hall, the construction of a raked floor and a better appointed stage. The new arrangements created difficulties for other organisations in using the Main Hall but strengthened the facilities of the Theatre. At the same time, a new facade and foyer were constructed, in the style of the time. (19) The advent of John Kummel in 1982 to director the Northside Theatre Company (as it was newly named), initiated a period of substantial success. Kummel left in 1990 (though he was later to return) at a time when financial problems were again to bring difficulties. Success in the 1990’s was to be attainable but easy to sustain. The present and future are matters for separate discussion.

1. K. Cook. The Railway Came to Ku-Ring-Gai, p.66

2. For Edwards. see Cook above. Cook reproduces a newspaper article by Edwards in 1921, wherein he recounts his work for railway expansion . He does not allude to th great advantage It gave to his own landholdings.

3. NSW Land Titles Office, Certificates of Title, vol 956 ff 213-4, vol 1184 f 184, vol 1297 f30

4. NSW Land Titles Office, Certificate of Title, vol 1423 f 218

5. John Sands’ Sydney and Suburban Directory, 1905-6, (Killara is listed under Lindfield until 1920)

6. Sydney Morning Herald, 28 June, 10, 17, 24 July, 11 September 1906

7. Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol 12 pp 25-6

8. Report by Deputy Town Clerk of Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council, 66/2708, File on Marian Street Theatre, Local Studies Centre, Gordon

9. Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June 1910

10. Noted in Deputy Town Clerk’s Report, above

11 . NSW Land Titles Office, Certificate of Title, vol 1423 f 218

12. Austral ian Dictionary of Biography. vol 8 pp309-10, vol 12 pp390-1

13. Deputy Town Clerk’s Report, above

14. NSW Land Titles Office, Certificate of Title, vol 4629 f 232

15. Report by Ancher, Mortlock, Murray and Woolley to Council on inspection of 31 May 1965, File on Marian Street Theatre, Local Studies Centre, Gordon

16 . Material on formation of Community Theatre, Killara, in separate file in Marian Street Theatre collection, above

17. Deputy Town Clerk’s Report, above

18. Ibid

19. The history of the Theatre is complex. The Marian Street Theatre files, already noted, contain ample materials for such a history to be written.