Page 12 - CinemaRecord #85

THE UNION THEATRE - WONTHAGGI

By Gerry Kennedy

onthaggi is situated 128 km southeast Streets, in 1910. This was a large marquee mined in 1909 and quickly became the
Wof Melbourne and has a current and seating was provided on timber slabs headquarters of the Victorian Coal Miners
population of about 6700. It is the main centre mounted on short posts in the dirt floor. Association (formed in Korumburra in 1896).
of the Bass Coast Shire. Variety concerts and films were featured there.
The early working conditions in the faulted
As towns go Wonthaggi is comparatively Then Ned Sheehan built a hall on the north seams of coal were described as the worst in
young having its beginnings around 1909 east corner of Graham and Billson Sts. Australia. The membership of the Union in
when a tent town grew around a black coal Known as the Lyceum Theatre this venue was Wonthaggi grew rapidly and, apart from the
mine shaft. short lived and was destroyed by fire, along usual business of representation and
with many shops, in 1912. negotiation, the Union had a far-reaching
In that year the main supplier of black coal to effect on the social and economic life of the
the Victorian Railways was New South Wales Henry’s Hall was built c.1911 at 140-146 town. The Union built a hospital, dispensary,
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and, because of a major strike, supplies rapidly Graham St. and was the main venue for balls, and general store, started cultural
dwindled. Some small privately owned concerts, live theatre and films in the 1910s. organisations such as the Workman’s Club, a
collieries around the Korumburra area could It was later named the Wonthaggi Theatre. brass band and built its own hall as a public
not fill the gap and imported coal was sourced. This venue was sold to the RSL in 1919 when theatre.
it was remodeled and a new double storied
The Victorian State government authorised the addition was build at the front to house the In 1914 the Miner’s Union members decided
development of State owned coal mines around RSL clubrooms. The hall was then known as to build their own hall at 96-98 Graham St and
an approved tent town for up to 2500 people. the Soldiers Theatre and later became the a fortnightly levy of one shilling (10 cents)
This was Wonthaggi. Construction of a Plaza Theatre. Today the building is the was imposed. The project was interrupted
permanent town began in 1910. 1 firstly by World War 1 and later by the flu
Plaza Arcade.
epidemic, which discouraged the unnecessary
Moving the coal by bullock teams to shipping gathering of people.
Smiths Hall (1910) situated at 44-46
at Inverloch proved inadequate and the Nyora McBride Ave was rebuilt as Fahey’s Crystal
– Woolamai railway line was quickly extended The many demands on Union funds in such a
to Wonthaggi in only 10 weeks to provide Palace (later named the Cairo in the 1932). volatile industry also prioritized funds to other
better capacity of movement. 2 The Crystal Palace was a dance hall, picture more important areas than a hall. Finally in
theatre, roller skating rink and boxing
wrestling venue until burnt down c.1935. June 1924 the Sentinel newspaper reported the
Most of the following history and information
Various other halls, including the Shire Town construction of the foundations for the hall. A
has been taken, with the author’s permission construction time line of six months was
from IT’S ON AT THE UNION – The Hall were used for entertainment in mentioned and this was achieved. By 1923
Wonthaggi Miners’ Union Theatre 1925 – Wonthaggi. Wonthaggi’s population had reached 12,000. 2
1978 by Joe and Lyn Chambers.
However the largest organisation in the town The hall, to be known as the Union Theatre
The forerunner of Wonthaggi’s entertainment at the time, the Miner’s Union, had no hall of was constructed and furnished at a cost of
was the “Old Brown Tent” erected by Ned its own. The Miner’s Union Lodge was about £8000 ($16,000). It was a substantial
Sheehan at the corner of Billson and Murray formed soon after the first black coal was
building made of bricks and steel with a single
story frontage. Four glass doors lead from the
street into the foyer which included a ticket
Union Theatre 1931
box and entry to the crush space. The left side
of the frontage contained a committee room
and the right side contained the Union’s
administrative offices. Ladies and Gents
cloakrooms were also off the foyer. From the
Gents cloak rooms a set of stairs led to the
bioscope (projection) room. A narrow landing,
or gallery, across the rear of the hall was
accessible from the bioscope room.
The rectangular auditorium measured 84 x 54
feet. The walls and ceiling were of fibrous
plaster. The hall was fitted with side windows
for daytime activities and to assist ventilation.
A secretly nailed Jarrah timber floor was fitted
for dancing. The auditorium seated 900 –
1000 people. The stage measured 31 x 25 feet.
The stage walls and ceiling, like the bioscope
room, were lined with asbestos for fire-
proofing. Dressing rooms were built on stage
left and right. Beneath the stage was a large
supper room and kitchen. Toilet facilities were
located outside at the rear of the hall, as was
the usual case in unsewered areas.

12 CINEMARECORD # 85