Elder Hall
University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide
Elder Conservatorium
First organ: J.E. Dodd 1901, moved to St Mark’s Catholic Cathedral, Port Pirie
Present organ: Casavant Frères 1979
3 manuals, 35 speaking stops, 4 couplers, mechanical action
Elder Hall, University of Adelaide – exterior
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (October 2019)]
Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA, 2019 (last updated October 2019)
The generous bequest of Sir Thomas Elder of £20,000 to the University of Adelaide enabled the construction of Elder Hall. The foundation stone was laid on 26 September 1898 by the South Australian Governor Sir Thomas Buxton. The building was designed by Adelaide architect Frank John Naish (1844-1904) in Florentine Gothic style and built of stone. The hall was opened on 26 September 1900.1
A new organ was built by J.E. Dodd and opened on 20 July 1901.2 With three manuals, 32 speaking stops and 10 couplers, this was the largest instrument so far to have been built by Dodd and was widely acclaimed for its progressive tonal qualities and console incorporating stopkeys. Rebuilt by Dodd in 1934, it was sold to St Mark’s Catholic Cathedral, in Port Pirie.
Elder Hall, University of Adelaide – organ from gallery
[photographs by Trevor Bunning (October 2009)]
Following an extensive remodelling of the hall with new platform, seating and rear gallery, it was reopened in 1978. A new organ was constructed by Casavant Frères, of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada and opened in 1979. It was the firm’s opus 3405 and built under the superintendence of Gerhard Brunzema (1927-1992), who was artistic and tonal director of the firm at the time.
| Grand-Orgue Bourdon Montre Flûte à Cheminée Prestant Quinte Doublette Cornet Fourniture Trompette Positif au Gr. Orgue Récit au Gr. Orgue Positif Bourdon Prestant Flûte à Cheminée Nasard Quarte de Nasard Tierce Larigot Cymbale Cromorne Tremblant Récit Flûte Ouverte Viole de Gambe Voix Céleste Octave Flûte Octaviante Octavin Plein Jeu Bombarde Trompette Hautbois Tremblant Pédale Montre Soubasse Octavebasse Octave Fourniture Bombarde Trompette Clairon Gr. Orgue à la Pédale Récit à la Pedal |
16 8 8 4 2-2/3 2 V V 8 8 4 4 2-2/3 2 1-3/5 1-1/3 IV 8 8 8 8 4 4 2 V 16 8 8 16 16 8 4 IV 16 8 4 |
TA TC 1-18 ½ length |
Pedal levers:
Pos/G.O.
Réc/G/O.
G.O./Péd
Réc/Péd
Compass 56/32
Balanced Swell (Récit) pedal
Console en fenêtre
Positif de dos
Compass: 56/32
Mechanical key and stop action
Attached drawstop console3
1 South Australian Register, 27 September 1900, p.4
2 Advertiser, 22 July 1901, p.6
3 https://ohta.org.au/organs/organs/Elder.html , accessed 2 August 2019
Elder Hall, University of Adelaide – console
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (October 2009)]
Elder Hall, University of Adelaide – left-hand stop jamb
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (October 2009)]
Elder Hall, University of Adelaide – left-hand stop jamb
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (October 2009)]
Elder Hall, University of Adelaide – nameplate
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (October 2009)]