White's Rooms

George White (1813 – 12 November 1876) was a Gloucestershire tailor who emigrated with his family to South Australia on the Royal Admiral, arriving in Adelaide in January 1838.

Pearce quit the business in May 1843, and White purchased much of his stock,[1] and around 1852 moved to larger premises in King William Street (which later became the public bar of the Clarence Hotel).

Musicians who hired the hall for public concerts included: James Allison, better known for his association with Samuel Lazar and the Theatre Royal, was in 1877 lessee of the rooms.

[7] It was here that John McDouall Stuart was given a grand reception, presided by Sir Dominick Daly, on the evening of 21 January 1863, on his return from crossing the continent from south to north.

It has been asserted that the change of name was to avoid losing patronage of the Wesleyans, to whom the word "theatre" connoted sin and blasphemy, no matter what the performance may be.

Bud Atkinson promptly took over the lease and in September 1913 it became the Star Theatre, a cinema screening a one-hour programme continuously from 11 am to 10.30 pm daily.

White's Rooms, Clarence Hotel and Wesleyan Book Depot c. 1870
Star Theatre and Clarence Hotel c. 1914