Henley Square Preview

What a Henley icon!

Ramsgate's charming old world exterior lies juxtaposed to the latest facilities inside - a modern décor and furnishings.

The hotel was named after a seaside town in England and was described by the 'Register' newspaper as a 'magnificent hotel constructed of the best metropolitan bricks'. It was the second hotel in Henley Beach, close to jetty, tram and train lines and had large cellars originally used for storing food and beer. The verandah was added in the early 1900’s and an air-raid shelter during World War II.

Be sure to complete the 'Ramsgate Challenge' below and look for 'hot-spots' that reveal more of its history in the RAMSGATE interactive panorama.

Accessing the interactive panoramas

Android phone users
After touching the hyperlink in the text to activate the panorama a blank window will launch which usually has a blue bar at the top. Touching the small icon in the top right hand corner (looks like an arrow pointing to a window) will load the panorama in a new window. To return to the mobile tour press the back button on your phone then touch the large arrow on the LHS of the window with the blue bar at the top.

iPhone users
The panorama will automatically launch in a new window after activating the hyperlink in the text. Closing the panorama window will automatically return you to the mobile tour.

Check out the interesting facades of the shops on Seaview Road near Henley Square!

Seen anything similar anywhere?

Shops

In the early 20th Century, Henley Beach was the only Adelaide beach that could be reached by tram. To attract more tourists, the Municipal Tramways Trust (MTT) invested in the development and promotion of entertainment and tourist attractions. This included building shops on Seaview Road - and yes they do look like the old tram barns on Hackney Road in Adelaide don't they!.

Henley Institute

Stella’s Restaurant was originally Kelsey’s Assembly Room and from 1891 hosted community events such as meetings, dances and concerts. In 1899 it became the Henley Beach Institute, providing library and educational facilities. Since then the building has had many uses: a billiard hall, a betting shop and now a restaurant.

Be sure to complete the 'Shops Challenge' below and look for 'hot-spots' that reveal more of its history in the HENLEY SQUARE interactive panorama.

Accessing the interactive panoramas

Android phone users

After touching the hyperlink in the text to activate the panorama a blank window will launch which usually has a blue bar at the top. Touching the small icon in the top right hand corner (looks like an arrow pointing to a window) will load the panorama in a new window. To return to the mobile tour press the back button on your phone then touch the large arrow on the LHS of the window with the blue bar at the top.

iPhone users

The panorama will automatically launch in a new window after activating the hyperlink in the text. Closing the panorama window will automatically return you to the mobile tour.

Who doesn't like sideshows?

Sideshows
The square was always crowded with holiday makers milling around a collection of food stalls, side-shows etc. There was music, noise and excitement everywhere. The merry-go-round or carousel, which was here from 1929, was moved to Semaphore in 1938 and has been spinning ever since.

Rotunda
In 1911 the MTT built a rotunda/bandstand in front of the Kiosk, which was later moved in line with the jetty. Bands provided a season of concerts and were always in uniform and arriving by tram. Deck chairs were available to hire for sixpence (5 cents) each. The rotunda featured in the 1919 Australian silent film,'The Sentimental Bloke'. It was demolished in 1977.

Pole Sitters
The practice of sitting on top of a pole on a small platform for extended lengths of time as a test of endurance.

As part of the Henley Carnivals in the late 1950s and early 1960s, pole sitting competitions were held in the Square. In 1959, 10 people entered, for a prize of £100. Three retired after 7 days due to sunburn, swollen legs and sunstroke. No such thing as OHS back then!

Be sure to complete the 'Sideshow Challenge' below then checkout the 'Pole Sitters' hot-spot in the HENLEY SQUARE interactive panorama.

Accessing the interactive panoramas

Android phone users
After touching the hyperlink in the text to activate the panorama a blank window will launch which usually has a blue bar at the top. Touching the small icon in the top right hand corner (looks like an arrow pointing to a window) will load the panorama in a new window. To return to the mobile tour press the back button on your phone then touch the large arrow on the LHS of the window with the blue bar at the top.

iPhone users
The panorama will automatically launch in a new window after activating the hyperlink in the text. Closing the panorama window will automatically return you to the mobile tour.

It has all happened here at Henley - either at the beach or by the jetty!

Swimming and paddling at the beach has always been popular with residents and visitors but in the 1930s, Council enforced neck-to-knee bathing costume by-laws for both sexes, employing an inspector to patrol and fine those breaking the 'rules'. During World War II (1939-45) barb-wire entanglements were put along the beach and a search light on the jetty was staffed by soldiers.

The jetty was built in 1883. A magnificent 3-level pavilion was constructed on the sea-end of the jetty in 1915 but was demolished in 1945 following a severe storm.During the 1930s, Joe Murray the Snake Charmer would entertain people beside the jetty, 'Bob the Wonder Dog' would do tricks on the beach and Captain Harry Butler would perform daredevil flying stunts in the sky above the jetty. Annual events held from the 1930s to 1960s included sand castle building competitions, carnivals, sailing regattas and the Tramway’s Employees Picnic (for over 3000 people).

Be sure to complete the 'Beach Challenge' below and check out the 'Snake Charmer', 'Bob the Wonder Dog', 'Pavilion' and 'Harry Butler' hot-spots in the HENLEY JETTY interactive panorama.

Accessing the interactive panoramas

Android phone users
After touching the hyperlink in the text to activate the panorama a blank window will launch which usually has a blue bar at the top. Touching the small icon in the top right hand corner (looks like an arrow pointing to a window) will load the panorama in a new window. To return to the mobile tour press the back button on your phone then touch the large arrow on the LHS of the window with the blue bar at the top.

iPhone users The panorama will automatically launch in a new window after activating the hyperlink in the text. Closing the panorama window will automatically return you to the mobile tour.

What a remarkable building - but it was even more remarkable in 1911 when it was built!

The Kiosk was built by the Municipal Tramways Trust (MTT) as part of a plan to attract tourists to Henley Beach by tram.

A ‘large and lofty hall’ on the first level could be hired for parties and balls and a tea garden operated on the roof. Dances were held there on Saturday nights and silent movies screened upstairs on both Saturdays and Sunday nights. In 1946 the kiosk was purchased by the Returned Soldiers League and in the 1960s it reverted to a restaurant. The verandahs were enclosed in 2006.

Check out the old and recent photos of the kiosk below in order to complete the 'Kiosk Challenge' and look for 'hot-spots' that reveal more of its history in the KIOSK and SIDESHOWS interactive panorama.

Accessing the interactive panoramas

Android phone users
After touching the hyperlink in the text to activate the panorama a blank window will launch which usually has a blue bar at the top. Touching the small icon in the top right hand corner (looks like an arrow pointing to a window) will load the panorama in a new window. To return to the mobile tour press the back button on your phone then touch the large arrow on the LHS of the window with the blue bar at the top.

iPhone users The panorama will automatically launch in a new window after activating the hyperlink in the text. Closing the panorama window will automatically return you to the mobile tour.

Have you heard of Dawn Fraser?

She was voted Australia's greatest ever female athlete in 2013. Fraser won 4 gold and 3 silver swimming Olympic medals between 1956 and 1964.

But what's her connection to Henley Beach? She trained for the 1956 Olympics in the Henley Swimming Pool which opened in 1934 as an open air saltwater Olympic pool with 8 lanes and a depth of 4.8m at the northern end.

Following severe storm damage, it was taken over by the Henley and Grange Council in 1955, made shallower and the 10m diving tower removed. It was the home of the Henley and Grange Swimming club from 1934 – 1985 which was founded in 1912 and is Australia’s oldest registered swimming club. The club continues to conduct an annual swim between the Henley to Grange jetties. The pool closed and was demolished in 1985.

Be sure to complete the 'Swimming Pool Challenge' below and look for 'hot-spots' that reveal more of its history in the SWIMMING POOL interactive panorama.

Accessing the interactive panoramas

Android phone users
After touching the hyperlink in the text to activate the panorama a blank window will launch which usually has a blue bar at the top. Touching the small icon in the top right hand corner (looks like an arrow pointing to a window) will load the panorama in a new window. To return to the mobile tour press the back button on your phone then touch the large arrow on the LHS of the window with the blue bar at the top.

iPhone users The panorama will automatically launch in a new window after activating the hyperlink in the text. Closing the panorama window will automatically return you to the mobile tour.