Bundaberg’s Olympia Theatre was officially opened in 1956 and went on to become the Moncrieff Entertainment Centre as we know it today.
This image from Picture Bundaberg shows staff on opening night and is from the Joan Watson collection.
Lift the curtain on opening night with more images from the Joan Watson collection below:
Bundaberg’s theatre history
Bundaberg’s first theatre was the Olympia Airdome, an open-air theatre built by syndicate in 1911.
The Olympia Theatre, as it was renamed, was taken over by Birch, Carroll and Coyle in 1922 and operated until November 1973 when it closed for major restoration work.
The building re-opened as the air-conditioned Crest Cinema on 19 December 1973 and, after being overseen by a variety of managers, was purchased by Bundaberg City Council.
The theatre underwent major changes to re-open as a live theatre venue and cinema in 1987 and was renamed The Moncrieff Theatre in honour of Bundaberg’s very own singing superstar Gladys Moncrieff.
With an update to the facade in October 2011, the venue was renamed the Moncrieff Entertainment Centre, to best describe all the forms of entertainment that continue to light up the stage to this day.
Other news: Soul to celebration, new Moncrieff program
