Trocadero Hall

Can you believe this grand old building started life as a roller skating rink? The Trocadero Hall, right here on King Street, has seen more action than a disco ball. Built in 1889 during an economic boom and a roller skating craze, the Trocadero was Sydney’s largest and most elaborate rink. Imagine the scene: elegant Victorians gliding across the polished floor beneath the magnificent wrought iron trusses. These trusses, by the way, are typical of railway buildings of the time, a testament to the burgeoning iron and steel technology of the late 19th century. The Trocadero even had a unique operable clerestory roof, allowing fresh air to circulate through the hall. A crank mechanism, still substantially intact, opened the roof, a rare feature, possibly unique in Australia. But the good times couldn’t last forever. The skating fad faded, and the Trocadero closed in 1893, a victim of the economic depression. It was resurrected in 1903 as Williams Skating Rink and Music Hall, complete with a renovation. Later, the Grace family, of Grace Bros department store fame, took over, renaming it the Elite Rink and Cafe Trocadero. The Trocadero Hall then morphed into a picture palace, hosted vaudeville shows and boxing matches, and even served as a center for soldiers’ wives and mothers during World War I. In the 1920s, Propert’s Motor Body Company moved in, converting the hall into part of their workshops. They eventually bought the building in 1945, remaining until 1979. In the mid-20th century, various alterations were made, some causing structural issues, like the addition of windows without proper lintels on the Campbell Street side. The Anglican Church purchased the building in 1976 for Moore Theological College. After years of neglect, a major restoration was undertaken in 2006. Today, the Trocadero Hall stands as a testament to Newtown’s vibrant past, a place that has rolled with the punches, adapting to changing times. It’s a beautiful blend of Victorian Flemish and Free Gothic architecture, a true gem on King Street. And who knows, maybe roller skating will make a comeback, and the Trocadero Hall will once again echo with the sound of wheels on a polished floor.