Royal Hall Of Industries & Hordern Pavilion Added To State Heritage Register

The Royal Hall of Industries and the Hordern Pavilion have this week been added to the NSW State Heritage Register, following strong recommendation from the NSW Heritage Council. 

“During the 120-day consultation period, submissions overwhelmingly favoured listing these two important buildings,” said Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Heritage, and the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council. “This included support from the owner and tenants of the buildings.”

The Royal Hall of Industries was built in 1913 and was the first significant exhibition hall at the Sydney Showground. It was designed in a Federation Free Classical style by J.B. Saunders, and built for the Royal Easter Show at Moore Park. It had displayed motorcycles, photographic equipment, art, manufactured goods, jewelry, musical instruments, and more.

Later, the hall was used as an emergency hospital and morgue during the 1919 influenza pandemic. In 1938, the venue was officially turned into a year-round ice-skating rink, remaining so until 1951. It later served as a site for community events and sports.

Today, the Royal Hall of Industries operates as the Sydney Swans’ headquarters and community centre.

“Heritage and development can go hand in hand,” says Sharpe.

The Hordern Pavilion opened its doors on 2 April 1924 during the 1924 Royal Easter Show, and was constructed to provide the show with additional exhibition space. It was designed with Inter-War Academic Classical style in mind, by Trenchard Smith & Maisey. The venue was named in honour of Sir Samuel Hordern, who served as president of the Royal Agricultural Society.

The first show of 1924 featured advanced technologies, including stoves, wireless radio communications displays, hot-water systems, and motor vehicles.

The venue became the setting for major public events, including boxing matches and film screenings, and by the 20th century, it was the stage for Sydney’s best live music and entertainment acts.

“The curtilage (site boundary) of this listing contains the Hordern and the Royal Hall. It does not cover the Entertainment Quarter which sits alongside these buildings. I have also approved site- specific exemptions to allow normal maintenance and ongoing appropriate upgrades,” said Sharpe.

“Listing this site while the future of the Entertainment Quarter is going through a public and open tender process is a clear demonstration that Heritage and development can go hand in hand,” said Sharpe. “I am supportive of the Entertainment Quarter’s revitalisation and encourage a sensible and pragmatic approach to related heritage conservation matters.”

“Their tenants are supportive of the heritage listing and, to the best of my knowledge, have no plans for moving.”