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Bendigo City Council)
purchased the Capital
property for $450,000 on
22 September 1987, after a
government offer of $1.5
million to fund the
purchase and develop the
first stage of an arts centre.
This first stage, located on
the ground floor, was
opened in June 1989, and
consists of the Bendigo
Building Society Theatre,
which is a versatile space
in the old temple area, and
has two spaces - the
Banquet Room, which
serves as a banquet,
reception and exhibition
area, and the Lanyon
Room, which is a licensed
bar and also doubles as a
venue for intimate
functions. Having
mentioned a licensed bar, it
is appropriate here to add
that the original building
housed the Masonic Shades Hotel. This The theatre now has a raised floor in stadium the bust of a woman, each side of which is a
basement area is now a smart cafe/dining style, with a modern spotlight booth lion, representative of beauty and the beast.
space. incorporated into the auditorium. This
contrasts with the old added-on bio box, The internal colour scheme is in peach and
The second stage, the Capital Theatre, is which was an external eyesore, now cream tones, which vary in intensity by the
located on the upper floor of the complex, and demolished. The clever use of space under the clever use of lighting. The stage is equipped
opened on 26 April 1991. This brought the raked floor has enabled additional toilets to be with modern lighting and sound equipment,
total renovation cost to $6 million. Every cent located upstairs, and to provide a space for air and is dressed in red curtain drapes.
has been well spent, no doubt in part because conditioning equipment. Externally, doors and windows have been
the local community had to raise a huge part restored, and the facade, featuring six
of this sum itself. As well as dinners, balls and The auditorium and adjoining foyers abound Corinthian columns topped by a triangular
the usual fund-raising activities, the old with Masonic symbols, with squares, Greek/Roman pediment, has been cleaned and
theatre seats were sold for around $20 for compasses, suns, moons, and stars featuring in restored. The symbolism associated with the
rows of five or six. Similarly, supporters could stained-glass, carved woodwork and plaster Corinthian column is that it is an architectural
have a plaque with their name on it attached to mouldings. Within the theatre, the walls expression of beauty. At the head of the
a seat in the renovated theatre for $200. The contain several arches, atop each of which is a column, acanthus leaves are featured,
refurbished auditorium is a magnificent mask of Tubal Cain, recorded in the Old representing growth associated with life
development, retaining all the decorative Testament as the first worker in metals. forces and veneration of the arts: a superb
architectural features of the old theatre, but Between each mask is a column crowned by blending of symbolism from the old usage of
completely modernising it. the premises to the new.
Since 2014, the entity Capital Venues &
Events manages three buildings, uniquely
placed to cater for all forms of live theatre; the
new Ulumbarra Theatre, with no limits to its
stage possibilities, the Capital for smaller
works and one-handers, and the Engine
Room, the former fire station adjacent to the
Capital, now used for experimental works.

As for William Vahland, stability, utility and
beauty ensures his work continues to serve the
Bendigo community. ✶

Credits:

Images from Anne Henshall, Marketing Manager,
Capital Venues & Events, used with permission.

This article originally appeared in Kino Edition
#44. It has been updated and reprinted in Cine-
maRecord with the permission of the author.

CINEMARECORD # 93 21