Golden era celebrated as The Capital theatre Bendigo nears 150

Wanted: old ticket stubs, photos and any memorabilia you may have about The Capital theatre to help mark its 150th anniversary. See why.

Bendigo Mayor Andrea Metcalf and Bendigo events manager Julie Amos outside The Capital theatre, Bendigo, holding design plans.

Turning 150 is momentous in anybody’s function calendar.

For a theatre once threatened with bulldozers, it is especially remarkable.

The rich history of The Capital theatre, Bendigo, which once faced demolition, will be celebrated later this year, and the city’s residents have been asked to share mementos of its past for the occasion.

Mayor Andrea Metcalf and events manager Julie Amos met at the landmark venue on Thursday morning to talk about its history.

The details of the celebrations are being kept secret for now, but like any good surprise party the guests are already being asked to help out.

Bendigo events manager Julie Amos inside The Capital theatre, Bendigo. The building turns 150 in June 2023.

Ms Amos has made a public appeal for the city’s residents to comb through their keepsakes drawers and albums to share pictures of old ticket stubs and programs from productions held there.

“We believe there are pictures of people standing in front of bulldozers to stop The Capital from being demolished,” she said.

“But we don’t have pictures of that and we would really like them and if anybody had any to get in touch with us and share them.”

Cr Metcalf said the building was an important part of Bendigo’s identity.

“It’s a beautiful facility that was built during the gold rush era,” she said.

“It reflects the architecture of that era and the wealth of that era as well.

“It has been an important part of many people’s lives from shows they’ve seen here to school productions they have acted in or done makeup for.

“And that’s part of what we hope people will share with us: those pictures they have from The Capital’s past.”

Exterior of The Capital theatre, Bendigo, which is turning 150 years old in June 2023.

Ms Amos said the theatre has been built by the Masonic society and had gone through several name changes over the years.

She asked that any photos of memorabilia that people were willing to share could be sent to [e-mail] by Friday, February 17 for potential inclusion in a special anniversary publication.