Timeline of Memorialisation
Date
Sydney
London
Source
8 April 1800
Henry IV performed at Governor Hunter’s theatre
Farmer Whyte, ‘Shakespear in Australia’ (1912), in Marks (n.d.), Collected papers, Mitchell QY9/M; Golder and Madelaine, Brave New World(2001), p.1
1832
Golder and Madelaine, Brave New World (2001), p.13.
1842
Statue of Sir Richard Bourke erected (first statue in Sydney)
Davison, The Use and Abuse of Australian History (2000), p.41
1863
Edgar Bertram Mackennal born, Melbourne.
26 Jan 1871
Oscar Asche born, Mack’s Hotel, Geelong Vic.
Asche, Oscar Asche (1929), p.15.
1900
Following Mungo MacCallum’s lecture series on Hamlet, Shakespeare Society of NSW established in Sydney, MacCallum president.
Marks, ‘History of the Shakespeare Society’, (n.d.), Collected papers, Mitchell QY9/M; Lyons, ‘Literary Anniversaries’ (2001), p.391
Sir Bertram Mackennal visits Australia
McCarthy and Ashton, Sydney Open Museum History Survey, (1994) p.49
1903
Rev. George Walters becomes 2nd SSNSW pres.
Marks, ‘History of the Shakespeare Society’
1904
UK STM first mooted
Gollancz, Homage to Shakespeare (1916), p.vii
Henry Gullett becomes 3rd SSNSW pres.
Lyons, ‘Literary Anniversaries’ (2001), p.392;
Marks, ‘History of the Shakespeare Society’
1905
Henry Gullett publishes a collection of his papers as read before the SSNSW
Gullett, Making of Shakespeare (1905)
1907
SSNSW seeks donations of £ and books for a library, raises £24 and opens with 94 vols.
Marks, ‘History of the Shakespeare Society’
1909
Oscar Asche’s company’s first Australian tour begins.
Asche, Oscar Asche (1929), p.124.
1910
Mitchell Wing of the Public Library opens.
Plaque outside Mitchell Wing.
1911
W. E. Hawkins becomes 4th SSNSW pres.
Marks, ‘History of the Shakespeare Society’
1912: January
UK plans for STM include theatre, est. cost £500,000. So far £80,000 raised.
H.B. Irving (actor), q’d in ‘A National Theatre’ SMH 8/2/12 p.8.
10 Jan
UK plans for STM noted in SMH
‘Australian’s Abroad’, SMH 10/1/12 p.5.
May
‘Shakespeare’s England’ to be open in Earl’s Court, London, fundraiser for UK STM
‘Shakespeare’s England’, SMH 24/2/12 p.4.
12 Mar
First 1912 meeting of SS NSW. Ex-Pres. Henry Gullett speaks on ‘S and the Stage’.
‘Shakespeare and the Stage’, SMH 16/2/12, p.7
11 May
SSNSW council votes to send £ to London Shakesp. Memorial Fund Gullett augments SSNSW’s contribution. [£20 raised by SSNSW members]
‘The Shakespeare Memorial’, SMH 11/5/12, p.8; ‘Shakespeare. Proposed Memorial’, SMH 12/6/12 p.17
22 May
Shakespeare Ball raises £480 for STM Fund
Marks, ‘History of the Shakespeare Society’
11 June
SSNSW officially initiates movement for a Shakespeare memorial in Sydney. Nature of STM undecided.
‘Shakespeare. Proposed Memorial’, SMH 12/6/12 p.17
July
Petition sent to Lord Mayor from SSNSW requesting public meeting to form STM committee. Includes 82 signatures.
City of Sydney Archives Item #1912/2836—Shakespeare Society Town Clerk’s Correspondence
19 Aug
Lord Mayor calls public meeting to form STM committee
City of Sydney Archives Item #1912/2836—Shakespeare Society Town Clerk’s Correspondence
26 Aug
Public meeting at Town Hall. Resolution to establish an STM in Sydney for 1916. Committee appointed.
W. P. Cullen, et. al. ‘The Shakespeare Memorial: An Appeal to the Citizens of NSW’, SMH 1/3/13, p.8
1913: 13 Jan
STM Fund Exec Committee reaches shortlist of 3 options for memorial: statue; library wing; funding for schools/ literary and dramatic prizes.
‘Shakespeare Memorial. Something Definite’, SMH, 14/1/ 13, p.7
3 Feb
STM Fund citizens’ committee decides to raise £25,000 for STM library of Elizabethan lit.: “The Shakespeare Wing”, + small sculpture/bust and small fund for prizes.
‘Wanted, £25,000’, SMH 4/2/13, p.10
1 Mar
Official announcement of STM appeal from STM Fund
W. P. Cullen, et. al. ‘The Shakespeare Memorial: An Appeal to the Citizens of NSW’, SMH 1/3/13, p.8
17 Mar
Deputation of STM committee to NSW Minister for Education requesting State gov’s support to build Shakespeare Wing. Minister supportive.
‘A Shakespeare Wing’, SMH 18/3/13, p.7
23 April
Every school in NSW participates in ‘Shakespeare Day’
‘Shakespeare Day’, SMH 19/4/13, p.20; ‘Shakespeare Day’, SMH 23/4/13, p.14; ‘Shakespeare Day’, SMH 24/4/13, p.10
29 April
Schools’ Shakespeare Day collections total £42 12s 6d.
‘Shakespeare in the Schools’, SMH 29/4/13, p.7
22 May
Shakespeare Ball held at Town Hall.
Marks, ‘Shakespeare Ball’, in Australasian Shakespeareana, (1915), p.28
1914: 22-25 Apr
Shakespeare Festival raises £256 for STM Fund
Marks, ‘History of the Shakespeare Society’; Marks, ‘Shakespeare Festival’ in Australasian Shakespeareana (1915), p.28
July
Meeting held to elect committees to form STM—a Shakespeare Theatre
Gollancz, Homage to Shakespeare (1916), p.vii
4 Aug
Henry Gullett dies, war declared
war declared
Gollancz, Homage to Shakespeare (1916), p.vii
13 Apr 1916
SSNSW holds a ‘social evening’ to celebrate tercentenary.
‘Shakespeare Tercentenary’, SMH 15/4/16, p.8
23 April – 3 May 1916
Brit. Empire Shakespeare Soc. sells Shakespeare medallions, to be worn throughout this period- £ raised for Red Cross, League of Mercy and Relief in Belgium
‘Homage to Shakespeare’, SMH 22/4/16, p.14
25 April 1916
STM Fund plans to hold ‘patriotic demonstration’ in Town Hall, gives up booking for Returned Soldier’s Association for Anzac Day commemoration N.B. 23 April 1916 was Easter Day
‘Homage to Shakespeare’, SMH 22/4/16, p.14
1916
Israel Gollancz, A Book of Homage to Shakespeare, published in lieu of UK STM.
Gollancz, Homage to Shakespeare (1916), p.vii
4 July 1916
STM Fund put on hold, its committee disbanded. Money raised to be held indefinitely in trust.
‘Shakespeare Memorial Fund’, SMH 5/7/16, p.8
1919
Walter Bentley becomes 5th SSNSW pres.
Marks, ‘History of the Shakespeare Society’
11 Sept 1920
Allan Wilkie est. Shakespearean Company with Melbourne performance of Macbeth
Golder, ‘A Cultural Missionary on Tour’ (2001)
1923
NSW Parliament passes Act to allow SSNSW to hand over STM Fund monies to Library
Marks, ‘History of the Shakespeare Society’
STM Fund monies (Total £1425) given to NSW public library towards establishing a Shakespeare library
Lyons, ‘Literary Anniversaries’ (2001), p.392; Marks, ‘History of the Shakespeare Society’
SSNSW reaches highest membership at 297
Marks, ‘History of the Shakespeare Society’
c. 1924
Marble pediment of statue shipped to Sydney, stored. Also bronze figures [?]
McCarthy and Ashton, Sydney Open Museum
12 May 1925
Plans in place to erect finished Shakespeare Memorial in front of Mitchell Library once landscaped.
‘City Plaza: A Remodelling Scheme’, SMH 12/5/25, p.8
October 1925
Drainage being carried out on future site of statue.
City of Sydney Archives Item #4989/5 –Shakespeare Memorial (Town Clerk’s Files). 1925-1926
30 Jan 1926
Mackennal’s statue now in place [???]
‘Shakespeare. The Sydney Statue’, SMH 30/1/26, p.11.
1 Feb 1926
W.H. Ifould objects to SMH article (‘Shakespeare. The Sydney Statue’, SMH 30/1/26, p.11.) seeming to suggest Mackennal statue not an original
‘Shakespeare. The Sydney Memorial, An Original Group’, SMH 2/2/26, p.10.
23 April 1926
First Shakespeare Day commemoration held at Statue, speeches by SSNSW Pres. Jackson and Sir Mark Sheldon, acting pres. English Speaking Union
McCarthy and Ashton, Sydney Open Museum History Survey (1994), p.51
11 May 1926
Site for Martin Pl Cenotaph approved by Council
City of Sydney Archives #11
8 Aug 1926
Cenotaph base dedicated by Premier Lang
City of Sydney Archives #11
October 1926
Mackennal holds solo exhibition in Sydney
McCarthy and Ashton, Sydney Open Museum History Survey (1994), p.49
1928
W. F. Jackson retires as 6th SSNSW pres, (pres since at least 1923) replaced by Arthur Eady as 7th SSNSW pres.
Marks, ‘History of the Shakespeare Society’
21 Feb 1929
Cenotaph dedicated by Premier Bavin
City of Sydney Archives #11
2? April 1929
Last popular Shakespeare Ball held in Sydney
Lyons, ‘Literary Anniversaries’ (2001), p.392
1931
Sir Bertram Mackennal dies, Devon.
McCarthy and Ashton, Sydney Open Museum History Survey (1994), p.49
23 April 1938
‘Anzac Festival’ held at Sydney Conservatorium, with ‘Pageant of April’ commemorating Anzac Day, St George’s Day, Shakespeare Day, and Capt Cook’s landing
Lyons, ‘Literary Anniversaries’ (2001), p.390
1959
Statue relocated to Botanic Gardens during construction of Cahill Expway
McCarthy and Ashton, Sydney Open Museum History Survey (1994), p.49
7 Aug 1961
Lord Mayor asked re: refurbishment of Shakespeare Place following Cahill Expressway development
City of Sydney Archives #1961/4498 ‘Shakespeare Place’
19 Feb 1962
Bronze figure of Shakespeare replaced on pedestal now facing Macquarie Street
‘Statues To Return To Old Site’, SMH 20/2/62 in City of Sydney Archives #11