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AURORA HOTEL
Date Opened : 1859
Date Closed : 1983
Address :
182 Pirie Street, Adelaide
History
| BLACK EAGLE HOTEL | 1859 | 1878 |
| MARQUIS OF LORNE HOTEL | 1878 | 1891 |
| MARQUIS OF QUEENSBERRY HOTEL | 1891 | 1894 |
| AURORA HOTEL | 1894 | 1983 |
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Labels
Hotel Photos
Schurgott Collection
Publicans
| Originally opened in 1859 as the Black Eagle Hotel, this grand establishment was built by Carl Goers (sometimes spelled Gors), offering a spacious frontage onto Hindmarsh Square. Designed with stables and a rear farrier’s forge, the hotel became a hub for Adelaide’s German immigrant community. Notably, artist Hans Heysen had some of his early works displayed here in the early 1900s. In 1866, Goers was fined £3 for illegally diverting water from the Adelaide Water Works for hotel use. He left the hotel in 1875 but continued operating the farrier service as the Black Eagle Shoeing Forge, before selling it in 1877 and moving to the Morning Star Hotel at Chain of Ponds. The Pirie Street Brewery purchased the hotel in 1878 and renamed it the Marquis of Lorne Hotel, undertaking significant renovations and adding an Athletic Hall. Boxing events became a drawcard, with the bar also serving as a source of the latest sporting news. In 1891, the hotel was renamed the Marquis of Queensberry Hotel, and finally in 1894, it became the Aurora Hotel under the ownership of Mrs Annie Bircher. It was later included in the 1902 sale of the Pirie Street Brewery to the South Australian Brewing Company. A major redevelopment in the 1920s saw a striking tower added to the building’s frontage, enhancing its already grand appearance. However, by the 1970s, the Aurora had fallen into decline. Despite public opposition and a large demonstration, the hotel was demolished overnight on Friday, 2 December 1983. Heritage features like stained glass, ironwork, and joinery were destroyed with the building, as developers rushed the demolition to avoid further protests. The loss of the Aurora Hotel remains one of Adelaide’s most regrettable heritage demolitions. Thankfully, four decades later, a similar public outcry successfully saved the Crown and Anchor Hotel, showing how community voices can make a difference in preserving our shared history.  c1983 Indaily 4th June 2024 |