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On 5 October 1986, the South Street Society celebrated its 130 birthday. The annual During the 1990s, the carbon arc film
agreed to hand over the ownership of the Royal South Street Competitions are still projectors were removed from the theatre and
theatre to the Ballarat City Council on the being held there, along with live productions replaced with spotlights for the stage
provision that its interests would be protected and concerts. Further restoration work was productions. In more recent times, a digital,
under the new management structure. In carried out in 2015-16, with repairs to the rear projection system has been installed to
November 1987, the theatre was formally ceiling and the replacement of the old screen films like shows from the Metropolitan
handed over and the job of preparing the “Rivoli” seating, but the foot warmers stayed! Opera. However, the annual South Street
building as a performing arts centre got under The seats were sold off to the general public, Competitions and live shows are nowadays
way. but about one hundred of them went to the the staple for one of the oldest theatres in
Murtoa Mechanic’s Institute where they are Australia … Her Majesty’s Ballarat! ✶
The name was changed back to said to look fantastic - compared to what they
Her Majesty’s and, on 7 June 2005, it had previously!

Her Majesty’s Compton organ, purchased from the Ritz Theatre, Warrington, Lancashire UK
Credits:

‘Her Maj’ - A History of Her
Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat.
(Peter Freund with Val Sarah).

Graeme Russell - Manager, Her
Majesty’s Theatre Ballarat, for
allowing use of the images of
theatre interior. These images were
taken by Rick Broadway.

Mrs. Janet McCulloch OAM -
President, Ballarat Theatre Organ
Society - for permission to use the
image of the Compton Theatre
Organ.

Back issues of the Ballarat Courier,
supplied by the Ballarat Mechanics
Institute.

24 CINEMARECORD # 95