Resources

This month in South Australia’s history

The Empire Theatre opens

The Empire Theatre, the first on Grote Street opened on 10 April 1909 in premises previously occupied by three two-storey shops. Designed by A Barnham Black, the theatre initially featured vaudeville acts and moving pictures. It continued to operate as a picture theatre until 1948. In 1952 it was acquired by People Stores Ltd and became part of its retail complex extending to Gouger Street.

Flinders Street Baptist Church opens

This church symbolised the consolidation of a previously divided Baptist community in Adelaide under the leadership of the young and dynamic Reverend Silas Mead who was instrumental in the erection of the church between 1861 and 1863.

Stow Memorial Church opens

The foundation stone was laid by Alexander Hay on the 7 February 1865 and the church officially opened on the 12 April 1867. The building served as a memorial to Reverend Thomas Quinton Stow. Stow, the first Congregational Minister in the colony.