By Sarah Bown

Just when it appeared to be the last curtain call for Union Hall, a flickering light at the end of the tunnel has appeared, with the building being awarded provisional heritage listing. The Register Committee of the South Australian Heritage Council made the recent decision which threatens to derail the University’s plans to build a state of the art photonic and post graduate research centre on the site.
Since their announcement to the public in September last year, the multi-million dollar plans have been scarred by dissent from members of both the University and greater Adelaide community.
The combined efforts of the SA National Trust, Adelaide City Council and ‘Save the Union Hall’ lobby were not in vain, with Union Hall being officially awarded temporary listing on the merit of it being ‘a rare example of theatre design representing the mid 20th century functionalist or modernist style’.
This, as one would expect, is not a decision welcomed by the University, who will be unable to make any adjustments to the building if permanent listing is granted. Head of the Division of Services and Resources at the University Paul Duldig regrets the Council’s decision but is confident the application will be rejected as it was the last time Union Hall was put up for heritage listing in 1996. He concedes that the University is concerned with the possibility that it may be approved, and is looking to the students and the University community to lend their support for the build. The AUU is currently drafting a submission against granting Heritage Status to Union Hall, believing this not to be in the long-term interests of students. The AUU will be conducting a student enquiry to ascertain their official position regarding the use of the site (distinct from the Heritage listing).
Over the next three months, the Heritage Council will accept any submissions from the public, both for and against permanent listing, and use these as a basis for their final decision to affirm Union Hall to or revoke it from the Register. Until then the site will be provided with the full protection of the Heritage Council.