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Taken on: May 29, 2022

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Summer Hill Theatre 1 Sloane Street, Summer Hill, NSW

The statue of a naked goddess stands in an arched alcove on the front of the building.

Spanish baroque frivolity derived from Hollywood; in some views it looks as much arabesque as baroque but it was certainly Spanish in inspiration, with a kind of galleon’s poop looming at the front, with the statue of a naked goddess in an arched alcove within.

I’d love the statue from the facade

Gail Ward, whose husband John Ward went on to become mayor of Ashfield Council in 1991, was also part of the protests.

“I remember telling one of the workmen who was demolishing the building that I’d love the statue from the facade, he asked if I had $100 and unfortunately I didn’t- so he just threw it down from the roof and smashed it,” she said.

Located in the western Sydney suburb of Summer Hill. The Summer Hill Theatre opened on 29th October 1930. Designed in a magnificent Spanish Baroque style by architect Emile Sodersten. The facade looked like the ornately carved stern of a 17th Century Spanish galleon. Inside the 2,043-seat auditorium, decorated by interior designer Arnold Zimmerman, the proscenium and side walls contained false boxes on each side. There were large urns, and gargoyles, to enhance the atmosphere of the building. In the centre of the ceiling was a large saucer dome, which had a huge chandelier hanging from its centre - Notes by Ken Roe.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -