Suva Town Hall

The British Empire mourned the loss of Queen Victoria and Suva town Council members discussed the suggestion for erecting a memorial to the late Queen.

On 4 August a public meeting was called to let subscribers to the memorial fund decide with what they should buy.

On 6 July various schemes were discussed such as statues, band stands, horse troughs, and promenades. It is unknown who first suggested to build a town hall.

The Suva Town Board asked the British Governor to sanction the raising of a loan of 2000 pounds.  The idea for a museum to display and preserve traditional Fijian culture was first discussed in 1904. Later that year a British colonial official, Sir William Allardyce, presented his collection to the Suva Town Board, and it was displayed in the Town Hall. It became Fiji’s first museum.

The Town Hall was officially opened in memory of the late Queen Victoria, thus bearing the name Queen Victoria Memorial Hall.

The fences between the Hall and the Pacific Cable Station were joined.

The Hall’s position as social centre took a knock when the Grand Pacific Hotel was opened and started to compete for events.

 A substantial part of the Hall was destroyed by fire so the artefacts and crafts for the Fiji Museum were moved.

On 28 April the Fiji Times reported that the Hall been ‘prettily’ decorated the previous day to welcome the Prince of Wales.

The Suva Group Theatre under the leadership of James Crawford presented in the Hall a series of theatrical productions comprising two revues, “Black Velvet” and Easter Parade”.

Christine Brain studied commercial marine biology and with the Fiji Bio-Marines directors decided to construct an aquarium in the Hall because the building was shabby and old at the time.

The Hall was rehabilitated to house the new Suva Aquarium.

The aquarium was closed.

The main body of the hall has housed a Chinese and Indian restaurant, a hairdressing salon and boutiques since the aquarium was closed.

In August the Fiji Government began restoring buildings in Fiji that have historical significance, including the Hall which is now more commonly called “Vine Yard Palace”.