Queens Hall

Queens Hall - located at the corner of Claim and Plein Streets, in Hillbrow, Johannesburg - was the home of the PACT Ballet Company.

History

The building started life in 1904 as the venue for the German Club (or German community's Liederkrans Club), being used for concerts, dances and other forms of entertainment.

During World War I it closed, like many other German institutions, and suffered damage at the hands of anti-German rioters before being converted into a nursing home.

At the end of the war the building became the Freemasons Hall until 1933 when it passed into the hands of the Jewish Reform Congregation. Services were conducted there until 1936 when the congregation moved to new premises in Paul Nel Street, Hillbrow.

In 1936, the building was renamed Coronation Hall to mark the coronation of King George VI.

It was later sold to another Jewish buyer and made over to the Zionist Organisation who used it for a variety of functions until a new Zionist centre was built. In 1942 Coronation Hall, continuing its association with Jewish organisations, was taken over by the Eitz Chayim Hebrew Congregation, an international movement providing spiritual centres for Jewish refugees from Europe.

When Eitz Chayim vacated the premises in 1954, the building became popular as a venue for weddings and other functions. After 1957, it was occupied by a catering firm and its name was changed to Queen's Hall.

Queens Hall was then bought by the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal for use mainly for rehearsals and administration purposes, and in 1963 Queens Hall became the headquarters of PACT Ballet. The small rooms on the top story served as the offices for the Artistic Directors and the administrative staff.

Sources

Liederkranz Club - Queens Hall. https://artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/bldgframes_mob.php?bldgid=6418

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