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The Prince Of Wales Opera House. Built 1872.
was appointed fire chief with five firemen to ‘Carlton Hotel’ in St Kilda. He was also a
assist. At the same time, he introduced plain founding officer of the Manchester Unity IOOF
clothes detectives to help seek out trouble Friendly Society in 1840 along with John
makers. An application was made to Sydney for Thomas Smith, the builder/owner of the Queens
those officers to be paid 1/- a day more than Theatre/St John’s Tavern. He died on
constables due to the use of their own clothing. 13 August 1868, aged 68 years. Poster for Rickards’ New Opera House, Grand
When the application was refused, Sugden Opening night, Melbourne, Saturday, May 18, 1901.
resigned in disgust and took up the licence of John Thomas Smith
the ‘Royal Mail Hotel’ on the corner of was born in Sydney of eventually oversubscribed and was built on
Swanston and Bourke Streets, next to the then Scottish parents on 28 land opposite the Arden Street football
Australian Hall/Opera House (Tivoli). He May 1816. He came to ground, where it remained until 1910, at
later held the licence for the ‘Bull and Mouth Bearbrass as a teacher which time it was re-established on Warrigal
Hotel’ in Bourke Street on part of the Eagle at the Aboriginal Road at Cheltenham. Smith died on
Tavern/Pavilion Theatre site and then the school where the 30 January 1879, aged 63 years.
Alexandra Gardens
now stand. He married Both Sugden and Smith played a part in
the daughter of the developing reliable theatre in this state.
licensee of the Smith, as a councillor, worked hard to have
‘Adelphi Hotel’ in Flinders Street, and later gas lighting installed for streets and
took over the licence. He then proceeded to buildings. ê
build the single storey Queen’s Theatre and
the ‘St John’s Tavern’, which helped to fund Biographical/Historical note:
the second storey to the theatre. He became The Prince of Wales Theatre (1872) was later
mayor of Melbourne, and also a member of the renamed the Prince of Wales Opera House, then
Victorian Parliament. He instigated the financial Her Majesty's Opera House in 1884, finally the
appeal to construct a Benevolent Asylum. The Alhambra Theatre in 1893. It lost its licence in
Sydney Government would only contribute 1899 and was rebuilt to a design by William Pitt,
50/50 with the Melbourne Council. It was opening as the Opera House on 18 May 1901. It
was renamed the Tivoli in 1912.
Left: Perspective drawing of Rickard's New Opera William Pitt was born in Melbourne in 1855. His
House, a red brick building with horizontal bands
father, also William, was a scenic painter. Pitt was
of white stone and arabesque details such as horse articled to theatre designer, George Brown in 1875
shoe arches and blue tiles. There are three narrow and commenced practice in 1879. During his
balconies on the facade with decorative iron career, Pitt became known for his theatre designs,
balustrades. A significant feature is the sphere, the most famous being the Princess Theatre.
with a flag pole flying the Australian flag placed on
a raised central section of the roof. Of special Images:
interest is the elaborate cast iron verandah with a State Library of Victoria
series of six semi circular arches with gas lamps John Payne Collection
hanging at the side of each arch and a crescent CATHS Archive
shaped decoration at the centre of each arch.

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