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This month in South Australia’s history

Jubilee International Exhibition

The official launch of the exhibition on 21 June 1887 was preceded by a march through the city by cavalry, infantry, artillery and marines from several ships. The exhibition proved hugely popular. By its close on 7 January 1888, 789 672 people had attended, more than twice Adelaide’s population.

The West Wing is completed

Construction of the building to accommodate the House of Assembly commenced in July 1883. Persistent quality of work issues led to the cancellation of the contract with Kapunda Marble & Building in 1885 with builder James Shaw taking over in February 1886. The West Wing was opened on 5 June 1889. More than 1000 guests, including Governor Kintore, were present. The House of Assembly Chamber was declared open by the speaker at the House’s first meeting on 6 June 1889.

The Regent Theatre opens

The most opulent theatre on Rundle Street was the Regent Theatre, built in 1927–28 by J Reid-Taylor to the design of Cedric, Ballantyne & Associates of Melbourne and English, Soward & Jackson of Adelaide. Described as a ‘palace of art’ when it opened on 29 June 1928, the Regent’s lavish interior featured marble stairs, portraits, tapestries and sculpture. A large Wurlitzer organ played at movie screenings until 1967. In that year the stalls and downstairs foyer were converted into an arcade and the stage space used as part of a second cinema. Remains of the Regent Theatre can still be seen upstairs at the Rundle Mall end of today’s Regent Arcade.