The Gladstone City Theatre

For about 50 years the only civic meeting place for the Gladstone community was the Town Hall, completed in 1932. In December 1977, the Gladstone City Council gave the official go ahead for the Gladstone City Theatre to be constructed. The site chosen was in Oaka Lane behind the Californian Grill Bar. This land was still part of quite a steep hill, and it had to be levelled. In June 1978 an initial application report was submitted to the Gladstone City Council for an auditorium, shops and offices.

The shops were completed in April 1981 and in October the theatre was ready for occupation. On 19^th October 1981, the school children of Gladstone were the theatre’s first performers. The Gladstone City Theatre was officially opened by His Excellency, Sir James Ramsay, and Governor of Queensland, on 21^st November 1981 and then it played host to a week of cultural activities. It had a seating capacity for 700 persons and boasted the best acoustics in the State. As well as many special artists and shows, the theatre has hosted all the city’s dance schools and amateur entertainment groups, primary school concerts and the Gladstone Eisteddfod.