A fond farewell to the State Theatre

Cooper and Bailey’s Great American International Circus arrives and pitches their big top on the site. In 1901 The Fitzgerald Brothers’ Circus built a permanent structure called Olympia, before the Wirth Brothers’ Circus took over the site in 1907. Over the next five decades the precinct would be home to a Japanese tea house, open-air theatre, miniature train, roller skating rink, cinema and dance hall.

Plans for an art gallery, 1,000 seat auditorium and spire were approved, and construction of phase one, The National Gallery was completed in 1968.

Phase two was more complicated. Geographical difficulties due to the soil meant a redesign was required. The original concept of an underground theatre and concert hall was altered. The theatres were raised above ground, and the concert hall was moved further down Saint Kilda Road to what is now Hamer Hall.

The Australian Ballet was honoured to open the State Theatre on the 30th of October 1984. The company premiered Maina Gielgud's production of The Sleeping Beauty with Christine Walsh as Princess Aurora and David Ashmole as Prince Florimund. The company was accompanied by the Elizabethan Melbourne Orchestra with guest conductor Barry Wordsworth.

Designed to look like a ballerina's tutu, the now famous Melbourne landmark is a prominent feature of the city skyline. Intricate gold webbing flows down from the spire and over the building, with the mast reaching a height of 162 metres above street level. Weighing over 97 tonnes, the Spire is lit up at night by over 14,000 lights to spectacular effect.

The opulent red velvet curtain was gifted to by the State Bank of Victoria for the theatre’s opening in 1984. Graham Bennet designed the beloved curtain that features hand painted Victorian wildflowers, the Victorian Coat of Arms and the impressive span of a lyrebird tail. Truly something to behold, the curtain is a defining feature of the State Theatre.

The Australian Ballet performed for the final time in the State Theatre on the 26th of March 2024. Artistic Director, David Hallberg welcomed all cast, crew, musicians and staff on stage for a final bow at the end of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland©. Closed until 2028, we look forward to returning to our home theatre and experiencing the improved facilities that include more accessible seating, new rehearsal spaces and back of house upgrades to make the technical process smoother.

Until then, you can experience the joy of ballet at another historic arts and culture icon, Melbourne’s Regent Theatre.