On the 4th September 1894 Hannans Find was declared and the track from Coolgardie became the main street. The camp was now becoming a town and more and more business were starting to spring up. Many made from hessian and canvas with a wooden frame. With the arrival of the rail line came building materials such as galvanised iron. The railway also allowed entertainers to journey to the Goldfields with such names as Fitzgeralds Circus, Aldred Dampier Theatre Company and Harry Rickards Tivoli Company.
The First Theatre In Kalgoorlie:-
Kalgoorlies First Theatre
In 1897 the Miners Institute in Hannan Street was the only large indoor theatre venue. The above photograph show the Miners Institute, as it was prior to the present Miners Institute Building being built, in Hannan Street. You can see on the right of the photograph a street lamp with the words ‘Stalls’ on it, This was the side entrance and is now the laneway between the buildings where the ‘Relish’ cafe is located.
Soon after this, Harry Rickard opened up his own open air theatre in Dugan Street, The Tivoli Garden Theatre, later to be changed to Her Majestys Theatre. The following photograph is taken inside the Tivoli Theatre. It was located on the corner of Cassidy and Brookman Streets and is now apartment buildings called the ‘Tivoli Gardens’.
Tivoli Theatre
The Cremorne Theatre
In 1906 Mr Harry Greville who owned the Duke of Cornwall Hotel put forward, to the then mayor of Kalgoorlie, Mr J H Cummings, that he proposed to obtain the vacant quarter acre adjoining his hotel premesis in the top end of Hannan Street. He proposed that no reasonable expense would be spared to build a first class venue for which the comfort of patrons was of the utmost importance.
He proposed to lay down couch grass for the floor and provision for 800 canvas deck chairs. Abuting on to Hannan Street so there would be a gallery with seating for 400. A side entrance in Hannan Street would enable ‘the gods’ to reach their position of vantage. The Cremorne Gardens would have a commanding frontage to Hannan Street with an arched opening in the centre for the ‘front seaters’.
The stage will be at the rear of the block and will be fully equal to that of the Theatre Royal in Perth. The depth of the stage from the footlights to the rear will be 40 feet. On the 15th January 1907 the foundation stone was laid by Mayor J H Cummings and the Cremorne Theatre Gardens opened on the 21st January 1907.
Advertisement for the Opening of the Cremorne Theatre
The first act to perform at the new gardens was Mr Harry Rickards who presented his ‘All Star’ vaudeville Company. The show was to run for 11 weeks with new performers arriving by train each week. It was to be the longest running show at the gardens. Seating was increased to 1600 but was still inadequate and some had to stand. On the 11th May 1908 and application was made to alter the roof of the Cremorne Theatre and Gardens.
During WW1 the theatre was sub let to picture show proprietor Samuel Madirsk and in 1918 a five year lease was taken out by George Tallis and Francis Thring who were entrepreneurs of movies and live theatre. They also ran the Majestic Theatre further down Hannan Street.
In 1928 E P Nelso took over the running of both the Majestic and Cremorne Theatres. He went on to purchase the Cremorne in 1935 and also the Palace Theatre in Boulder. Nelson retained the architects Hobbs, Forbes and Partners to refurbish the Cremorne. The was to also include the new Picture Gardens on land adjoining the west side of the Duke of Cornwall Hotel. He also made the addition of the art deco features on the front of the building as well as the foyer which can be seen today.
The Cremorne Theatre Upper Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie
It was during this time that the sliding roof was probably installed and changes made to the gallery seating and the external entrance was blocked off. The refurbished building re opened in 1936.
In 1970 came the drive in theatre and television to the Goldfields. Attendance to theatres and cinemas started to decline. In 1976 the building was offered to the City of Kalgoorlie Kalgoorlie on the condition that it would remain in use for community purposes for the nominal fee of $50.00 and ownership was transferred in 1976.
In 1982 the Westralian Drive In, operating as Twin City Drive In, took out a ten year lease on the Cremorne theatre. They re fitted it out with art deco style seats and a candy bar. Projection equipment was installed and all the latest technology. They were also to run blue light discos for teenagers. This project was to fail after only two years. In the late 1980-1990’s the Cremorne was to be the venue for indoor cricket and then Vollyball. Today is is run as a church.
The following two theatres also in Hannan Street will be remembered by many. The Majestic Theatre and the Regents Theatre. Both are now sadly gone.
The Regent Theatre Kalgoorlie
The Majestic Theatre
The first theatre in Coolgardie was a timber framed structure of bagging called the Great Varieties Hall in Hunt Street, which served for a time as the only entertainment centre until Frank Smalpage erected the Theatre Royal Hall in Woodward Street.
Theatre Royal Coolgardie
Coolgardie – The Great Varieties Hall 1893
Kalgoorlie Operatic Society 1907 – Photo from Julie Lawrie
The above postcard is advertising an event at Operatic Society of Kalgoorlie, the card doesn’t say, but from the names of the performers I would say it was The Gondoliers.
‘Mr Campbell and the Grand Inquisitor, Mr Brice as the Duke of Plaza-Toro, Mr Thompson as Marco, Miss Hill as Tessa, Mr Wall as Giuseppe, Mrs Hinde as the Duchess of Plaza-Toro, Miss Tippett as Casilda, Miss Stevens as Inez, Mr Moran as Luiz, Mis Joy Rolls premier dancer, Mrs Mooney as Gianetta.’
Moya Sharp
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I find your blog and stories so interesting and I look forward to them so much. Are you able to tell me some history about Kanowna. I have an ancestor who left England and settled in Kanowna in 1900. He married a local girl there. He was a miner. Do you have any old photos of Kanowna.
Hi Estelle Yes indeed there is a good deal on Kanowna on my web site @ http://www.outbackfamilyhistory.com.au There is also a book called ‘White Feather’ by Margaret Bull (Kanowna was called White Feather previously) which is an excellent publication. Let me know what you think.
Kind regards. Moya
The Thring name is famous in the history of Australian cinema. Many will remember Frank Thring who died about 5 years ago. Any relation to this Francis Thring?