City Steam Biscuit Factory Update
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In a recent article about the
City Steam Biscuit Factory (the original name for the Jade Monkey live music venue), we saw that the building
constructed in 1872 is under threat of demolition, despite being the first Balfours Bakery in SA, and a significant live music venue over a 50 year period.
The building at 29 Twin St Adelaide is scheduled to be demolished to enable the
developer of a 17 storey hotel next door to save on the construction costs, not because there is any need otherwise.
Heritage Register Nomination
We can now reveal that
the building has been nominated for inclusion on the State Heritage Register, which gives the State Heritage Council some additional powers under Section 30 of the Heritage Places Act 1993 to
make an order requiring a person to stop any work or activity, or prohibiting a person from starting any work or activity, that may destroy or reduce the heritage significance of that place.
Of course that power will only be exercised by the State Heritage Council %%if the Council is of the opinion—
(a) that a place has sufficient heritage significance to justify its preservation, or that a place should be evaluated in order to determine whether its heritage significance justifies its preservation; and
(b) that an order under this section is necessary to protect the place%%
We understand that a strong case has been submitted to the Heritage Council
%%* that the
Jade Monkey building is of outstanding significance to the South Australian live music community, and has been a base for the culture for nearly 50 years
that the original use of the building for Balfour's first bakery in Adelaide in 1852 establishes a strong connection to the food culture of South Australia, and a large part of the community%%
Of course it is up to the Heritage Council to determine the extent of this cultural connection as a matter of urgency, given that the Jade Monkey lease ends at the end of September. However strong evidence has been provided which is expected to be sufficient to ensure further investigation.
Part of SA Music Culture
Legendary Adelaide music promoter Alex Innocenti owned The Cellar in 1969 in the Jade Monkey building. He is greatly saddened by the threat to the Jade Monkey venue, and has kindly made some images available showing The Cellar in 1969.
Alex recalls that national and international acts such as Peter Paul & Mary used to come to The Cellar after their performances to mix with local musicians.
A sign of the continuing interest in music from The Cellar's era is
this CD which is still in demand.
There have been statements of protest on many music related websites all over Australia, but disappointingly neither the Greens nor Senator Xenophon have been willing to become involved in what they say is a State matter.
Despite much
public concern and protest, and a
petition signed by 4,500 people , the government has done nothing to save this building that has become a part of SA history.
Food Culture Icon
Two Balfours products have been classified by the National Trust as SA heritage icons, the
Frog Cake and the
Pie Floater . This underlines the strong association with South Australian food culture that the Balfours name has carried over the last 100 years, and it would be very sad indeed to see their
first bakery demolished for no good reason.
Indeed this amusing and popular
1970's Holden advertisement capitalises on the food connection with its reference to meat pies - at that time synonymous with the Balfours name in South Australia
Surprisingly the South Australian owned San Remo company which owns the Balfours name has made no comment about the impending demolition of their first bakery.
Other concerned parties
The Jade Monkey building was the place in 1928 where the first meeting of the
South Australian Aviculture Society was held, making it the first group of its kind in Australia and only the third in the English speaking world.
While recent government funding cuts have prevented the
National Trust from actively taking a part in the campaign to save the Jade Monkey, it is understood that they are very concerned.
There continues to be strong concern from individuals in social media such as
Facebook and
Twitter , and there will be much interest in the outcome of this application to the
State Heritage Council .
Have you spoken to your local MP about this issue yet?
Watch this space!
© All images are copyright, and all rights are reserved by the respective owners. Written permission is required for any re-use.
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131710 - 2023-06-13 08:01:43