An ‘Assembly Hall’ for the national capital was a priority as a place for civic and cultural activities to nurture the new city. Construction of the Hall commenced in July 1927 and it was officially opened on 10 March 1928 by Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne Bruce, who declared it the ‘centre from which will radiate all those aspirations that are truly national’.
As Canberra’s only performing arts venue for its first 40 years, Albert Hall influenced the growth of flourishing musical, operatic and dramatic societies, such as the Society for Arts and Literature, Canberra Relief Society and Canberra Repertory Society. It was also the venue for tours by the Royal Ballet and the Australian Ballet, and even housed exhibitions of paintings and sculpture before a national gallery emerged.
On a civic level, Albert Hall was used for many formal public assemblies. The first such event was the British Empire Forestry Conference held in September 1928. During World War II, Albert Hall was the venue for Red Cross fundraisers and in 1945, the unforgettable site of the celebrations of the declaration of peace. In the late 1940s, the first graduation ceremonies of the new Australian National University College were held there. On 3 February 1949, Prime Minister Ben Chifley, Immigration Minister Arthur Calwell and Shadow Minister Harold Holt officiated at Australia’s first citizenship ceremony, held in Albert Hall, which was also the venue for annual Australian citizenship conventions.
In 1979, Albert Hall was classified by the National Trust of Australia (ACT) and in 1991 it was included on the ACT Heritage Register. In 2008, Albert Hall celebrated 80 years.
The Archives in Canberra holds a considerable range of records including files, photographs, and architectural plans and drawings relating to the construction, maintenance, administration and management of events. Management of Albert Hall transferred from the federal government to the ACT Government in 1988.
 | Assembly Hall Canberra – construction of | 1926 | A1, 1926/3542 | ||
| Assembly Hall Commonwealth Avenue | 1926–27 | A281, DGW1927/211 | ||
| Halls – Albert Hall | 1928 | CP698/9, 46/5 part 1 | ||
| Albert Hall – repairs and sundry services | 1928 | CP698/9, 46/5 part 2 | ||
| Albert Hall – caretaking etc | 1928 | CP698/9, 46/6 | ||
| Letting of Albert Hall for picture show purposes | 1930–32 | A430, G1214 | ||
| Albert Hall, Canberra – ACT general administration | 1933–57 | A431, 1953/2064 | ||
| Gift of plinth for use as sundial base | 1935–38 | A1, 1937/12238 | ||
| Albert Hall – catering and refreshment rights | 1937–39 | A659, 1939/1/2806 | ||
| Albert Hall – Caretakers Cottage | 1938–40 | A1, 1938/9768 | ||
| Albert Hall Publication of Allocated Bookings | 1945–46 | A431, 1946/1922 | ||
| Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II – High Commissioner's reception – Albert Hall, June 1953 | 1950–53 | A3522, 8/31 | ||
| Royal tour 1954 – Civic ball at Albert Hall | 1953–54 | A462, 825/2/54 | ||
| Personal papers of Prime Minister Harold Holt – opening of 1965 Australian Citizenship Convention | 1965 | M2607, 107 | ||
| Photograph No. 92 – Albert Hall, May 1928 | 1923–26 | A5342, volume 1 part 1 | ||
| Albert Hall, under construction | 1927 | A3560, 7480 | ||
| Albert Hall and bust of 'Bellona', Roman goddess of war by Sir Bertram Mackennal | 1928 | A3560, 4238 | ||
| Interior of the Albert Hall | 1928 | A3560, 4397 | ||
| New Australian Festival Canberra – Albert Hall | 1949 | A12111, 1/1949/17/1 | ||
| Opening of First Citizenship Convention 1950 | 1950 | A12111, 1/1950/11/3 | ||
| Albert Hall, Canberra ACT | 1950 | A1200, L13520 | ||
| Australian citizenship and naturalisation ceremonies – Albert Hall, Canberra | 1955 | A12111, 55/12/28 | ||
| Debutante ball at the Albert Hall, Canberra | 1956 | A1805, CU77/8 | ||
| Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet arriving at Albert Hall | 1958 | A1200, L26934 | ||
| British sculpture exhibition – January 1964 | 1964 | A7973, INT738/1 | ||
| National electoral tally room – December 1964 | 1964 | A7973, INT798/3 | ||
| Albert Hall – sketch plans and elevations of proposed recreation room | c1920–30 | A2502, AB228 | ||
| Albert Hall – perspective | 1925–30 | A2502, AB667 | ||
| Architectural drawings – The assembly hall Canberra | 1927 | A2501, AA368 | ||
| Albert Hall – details of false floor to orchestra pit | 1929 | A2502, AB1144 | ||
| Canberra housing – Albert Hall caretakers cottage | 1939 | A2617, section 195/10237 | ||
| Albert Hall – proposed extension to trap door and details of platform under stage | 1946 | A2617, section 9/16581 | ||
| Albert Hall – proposed extensions – schemes 'F' & 'G' | 1949 | A2617, section 9/18946 | ||
| Temporary alterations to curtain drives | 1955 | A2445, M8901D | ||
You can obtain more information about the record series listed above (and the items within the series) from RecordSearch, the Archives database. Follow the links in the series lists to go directly to information on that series. Searches using the phrases ‘albert hall’ and ‘assembly hall’ will identify relevant items. You can also use RecordSearch to find out about the agencies that created the records. You might also explore PhotoSearch to find out if there are photos pertaining to your subject.
RecordSearch and PhotoSearch are available online and in all Archives reading rooms. Reference staff are available in the reading rooms to help you, or email ref@naa.gov.au.