Before cinemas, Melburnians lined up to see the cyclorama

LONG before Melburnians were queuing for the latest food fad, they lined up to see what was on offer at the cyclorama. So what happened to this once-popular form of entertainment?

LONG before Melburnians were queuing for the latest food fad in Fitzroy they lined up to see what was on offer at the “cyclorama”.

Victorian-era crowds were drawn to the hexagonal building opened in 1889 at Eastern Hill (now Fitzroy) to see the giant, 360 degree oil-on-canvas painting.

The painting was usually of historic events and was viewed from a platform in the middle of the building.

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The original cyclorama building which featured scenes from famous battles.

The site is now part of the St Vincent’s Hospital. Image: National Library of Australia

Opened by Acting-Governor Sir William Robinson in May the first painting was a 1858 sq metre depiction of the Battle of Waterloo.

“It is a happy circumstance that one of the most eminent battle fields in the history of the world should be the first picture presented for the instruction of a colony that had done more in proportion to its size than any other proportion of Her Majesty’s dominion for its own defence,” he said in a speech.

Located on the corner of Victoria Parade, it was rebranded before being demolished. Image: Fitzroy Library

The location of the cyclorama as noted in the Melbourne Exhibition Building official handbook, 1892.

The immersive experience was designed to make people feel as though they were part of the action and often featured music, narration or props to heighten the effect.

Accounts vary but the cyclorama was designed by either George Johnson or Lloyd Tayler and stood at the current site of St Vincent’s Hospital and cost £6500 to build.

Advertisement for a show at the cyclorama.

The Battle of Waterloo was on show in the city for four years, and was replaced with other historical scenes, costing about £2500 each.

The cyclorama was so popular a second was opened up at Bourke and Little Collins street, where the Georges Apartments stand. It opened with “The Siege of Paris” and stayed in place for five years.

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Part two of a Cyclorama of early Melbourne, part of the painting was damaged. Picture: State Library of Victoria

The final part of a Cyclorama showing early Melbourne. Picture: State Library of Victoria

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But the golden age of the cycloramas would come to an end as they couldn’t match motion pictures.

The Fitzroy cyclorama closed in 1904, just 15 years after it opened to dazzle crowds.

The building remained for another 24 years before it was demolished in 1927 to make way for the extension of St Vincent’s. The Bourke Street cyclorama was partially demolished in 1901 before it was replaced by shops and apartments.