No. 1028 - Glenorchy - 'Edeline Gospel Hall'

The city of Glenorchy is located approximately 7 kilometres north of Hobart's CBD. Glenorchy means ‘glen of tumbling waters’ and it is believed that Governor Lachlan Macquarie named the area after his wife’s birthplace; Glen Orchy, Argyllshire.The district was originally named 'King Georges Plains and the first centres of settlement were known as 'Kensington (village)' and ‘O'Briens Bridge’.

Edeline Hall was built as public hall in late 1907 and was officially opened on Wednesday 1 January 1908. The hall was named in honour of Lady Edeline Strickland, wife of Governor Gerald Strickland. The hall still exists behind the facade of Bento Japanese take-away on Glenorchy Main Road, opposite the City Council offices.

For many years Edeline Hall was a meeting place for social gatherings, political meetings, youth groups and occasionally for religious services and gatherings. By the 1950s the hall was in regular use by an evangelical Christian group; Worldwide Evangelization Crusade. During this period the hall was sometimes referred to as the “Edeline Gospel Hall”. Although never formally designated a church, the hall is representative of hundreds of public buildings used for worship and religious gatherings since settlement. 

Edeline Hall c.1960 - photograph supplied



One of many advertisements from the 1950s reflecting the halls frequent use for religious functions (The Mercury)


Eveline Hall in recent years - clearly visible behind a modern facade (Google Street-view)




Sources:

The Mercury, Tuesday 31 December 1907, page 5
Tasmanian News, Saturday 1 February 1908, page 1
The Mercury, Friday 3 March 1950, page 7
The Mercury, Saturday 3 May 1952, page 24
The Mercury, Saturday 7 February 1953, page 23
The Mercury, Saturday 23 October 1954, page, page 58




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome to Churches of Tasmania

No. 624 - Dunalley - St Martin's Anglican Church - "In grateful memory of the men who fought in the Great War"

No. 592 - Gretna - St Mary the Virgin - "Worthy of Imitation"