Trades Hall Auditorium

The Trades Hall Auditorium is an historic little gem hidden away down the dodgy end of Sussex Street accessible through a rather non-​descript building. The Auditorium itself is actually part of 4 Goulburn Street, birthplace of the Trade Union movement in NSW and home to Unions NSW. On first inspection it seems like any old auditorium but look past the squeaky temporary bleachers and the projector that complains throughout the presentation of a dirty filter and you’ll see that where you actually are is a turn of the century ballroom. The ornate moulding on the ceiling evoke a feeling of old world charm as do the window frames that if the blinds were up would probably frame a beautiful view of a brick wall. You can imagine this as a former ballroom with old-​timey lefties celebrating their most recent sticking it to the Tories moment. I love these sorts of hidden amazements that Sydney has in spades and if it comes with militant left-​wingers preaching to the choir then mores the better.