Dom Polski Centre in Angas Street, Adelaide city, opens 1973 to promote Polish culture in South Australia
The opening of the Dom Polski Centre in Angas Street, Adelaide city ,in 1973 allowed it to promote Polish language, culture, tradition and history in South Australia. This mission was supported by promoting the centre for wider use as a flexible events venue.
Images courtesyThe Dom Polski Society Co-op Ltd and Adelaide Fringe
The opening of the Dom Polski Centre in 1973 in Angas Street, Adelaide city, reflected the strength of the the South Australian Polish community especially with its second wave of refugees from Europe after World War II.
The original Dom Polski was bought in 1960 by the post-World War II Polish refugees who saw it important to preserve their heritage and culture so it could be passed on to their children and future generations. Initially, a house on Woodville Road, Woodville, in Adelaide’s western suburbs was renovated as a meeting place. It quickly became popular for many community and family events.
By the late 1960s, the original building was seen as too small. This led to the new building being constructed at 230 Angas Street, Adelaide city. The foundation stone was laid in December 1972 and the Dom Polski Centre was opened within12 months.
The Dom Polski Centre’s purpose was to promote Poland and Polish language, culture, tradition, and history for present and future generations. It sought to foster Polish-Australian business enterprises.The centre organised programmes, courses and events that promoted Polish and Polish-Australian culture and accomplishments, and preserved artifacts, archival materials, works of art and publications. To support this mission, the centre actively promotes itself as a functions and conventions centre to the wider community.
The two-storey building has a wide entrance and a long driveway. The small stage on the ground floor makes it ideal for parties, cabarets and wedding receptions with the capacity for about 240The wide staircase allowed entry to the upper floor for seminars, entertainment, balls and lunches for about 700. The flexibility of the centre meant it could host host events range from Fringe Festival performances to bouts for Boxing SA.