The Jubilee Orchestral Shell was a prominent outdoor performance venue designed by notable modernist West Australian architect Eric Leach, located in Perth’s Supreme Court Gardens. It officially opened on January 22, 1956, as part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Australian Federation. “In the short period (~1952-1957) that Leach practiced on his own account in WA, he was the architect for private houses, blocks of flats, the Supreme Court Gardens orchestral shell, the University Student Union building, the Church of England Theological College at Floreat/City Beach, a wool store at South Beach for Wenz & Co, and still found time to produce a scheme for the proposed Narrows Bridge over the Swan River.” [1]
Lord Mayor of Perth Mr J. Murray examines a model of the Supreme Court Gardens Jubilee orchestral shell designed by Eric Leach (The West Australian, 4 August 1954 p.9).
The shell was removed in after 1994 fire damage.
JUBILEE ORCHESTRAL SHELL OPENING
SUNDAY JANUARY 22 1956
FESTIVAL OF PERTH
Music in the Festival of Perth will also – include a concert on Sunday night, January 22 in the newly-erected Jubilee Orchestral Shell situated in the Supreme Court Gardens, and this will mark the occasion of the official opening of this beautiful shell. The bicentenary of Mozart will be celebrated at a special concert in Winthrop Hall on
Saturday, February 18, when 21 top-ranking players from the West Australian Symphony Orchestra will appear dressed in period costumes to recapture the original atmosphere of the old court music. [2]
SEVEN THOUSAND CAME TO LISTEN
In the gloom of a starless night, about 7000 people settled comfortably in the Supreme Court Gardens last night – some on chairs, most lolling on the lawns. They sat up and gasped with delight when the lights went up to show Perth’s new orchestral shell (pictured).
The shell, the roof of which is studded with shaded lights, has three wings on each side in soft shade of red, white and blue. The W.A. Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Farnsworth Hall presented a programme of “light classical” work with Shirley Flesfader, the soprano, as soloist. Miss Flesfader’s four songs were received with thunderous applause. Summing up the success of the evening, Mr Hall said after the concert that he was very happy with the reception given the orchestra by the citizens of Perth. The shell, he said, was by far the best he had ever seen. It gave him the greatest possible artistic comfort in music making. The shell was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Perth (Mr H. R. Howard.). [3]
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3799977_25
[1] https://www.taylorarchitects.com.au/Biographies/E%20Leach%20for%20AIA%20(WA).pdf
[2] The Beverley Times Friday 9 December 1955 page 6
[3] The West Australian Monday January 23 1956