The Capital Theatre is a 480-seat theatre in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. Designed by prolific Bendigo architects

William Vahland William Charles Vahland (born Carl Wilhelm Vahland; 2 October 1828 – 21 July 1915) was a German-trained Australian architect who, after migrating to Bendigo in 1854 and becoming an Australian citizen on 20 July 1857, became known as the ...

and Robert Getzschmann, the building opened in 1873 as a

Masonic lodge A Masonic lodge, often termed a private lodge or constituent lodge, is the basic organisational unit of Freemasonry. It is also commonly used as a term for a building in which such a unit meets. Every new lodge must be warranted or chartered ...

, and was divided into a private and public section, the latter containing a ballroom where an array of entertainment was provided, including opera, plays, lectures, recitals and, later, silent movie screenings. In 1890, the Masons refurbished the building to include a dedicated theatre room. Originally called the Mason Theatre, it was renamed the New Britannia in 1912 and then the Capital Theatre in the 1930s. Today the whole building is occupied by the Capital, and has state and national heritage listing."History of live theatre in Bendigo on display"
(3 November 2015), ''Bendigo Advertiser''. Retrieved 1 April 2021.

References

External links

The Capital
Buildings and structures in Bendigo Victorian Heritage Register Loddon Mallee (region) Theatres completed in 1873 1873 establishments in Australia Bendigo {{Australia-struct-stub