The Royal Princess Theatre was opened on 31st August 1874. The cost of the building was £12,000 with a capacity of 2,000 people. The building was designed by William Charles Vahland. The site was at the corner of View Street and McKenzie Street, with the frontage facing View Street. The auditorium was on three levels and seated 650 in the pit (rear stalls), 200 in the stalls, 250 in the dress circle and 850 in the gallery. A further 50 were seated in the six stage boxes. The frontage of the theatre was 80ft wide x 60ft, which inside the auditorium the proscenium was 30ft wide by 18ft high. The stage was 56ft deep. Stage lighting at the time was by gas until the Electric Supply Co, of Victoria Ltd. had DC power available in 1898. The theatre was described as comparable to anything Drury Lane in London had to offer. The original proprietor’s of the theatre John Croley died on 26th March 1899 aged 72 years, while William Billy Heffernan died 23rd March 1891 aged 81 years.The Royal Princess Theatre Bendigo History Notes, provided by Fred Page for the Bendigo Historical Society. Three pages of notes and photographs photocopied from an unknown book pp 24 - 26.history, bendigo, royal princess theatre

One page letter from Charles I. Du Ve, Court House, Rosedale dated 11th October, 1888, to Mr. J. Barry, Senior Constable, Sandhurst, congratulating Snr. Cons. Barry on the excellent content in the book he produced 'Victorian Police Guide'. Extract from letter: 'a work which should be of great value and use in the Police Force of the Colony'person, bendigo, john barry

Thirteen typewritten pages detailing the fife of Charles Joseph Latrobe. The chronology was prepared by L.J. Blake and R. Gill.person, individual, latrobe

Capital Theatre, Bendigo, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Orchestra. Direction: Australian Broadcasting Commission. Conductor: Joseph Post. Solo Violinist: Bertha Jorgenson. Wednesday 30th June, 8pm. Programme 6d. Australian Broadcasting Commission, Chairman: R J F Boyer, M.A. Vice-Chairman: E R Dawes. Members: Sir John Medley, M.A. Mrs Ivy Kent, J S Hanlon. General Manager: Charles Moses. Manager for Victoria: Conrad Charlton. Director of Music: W G James. Federal Concert Manager: R G Lamb. Concert Manager for Victoria: Dorrie O'Neal. Joseph Post. With this concert appearance, for which he is coming specially from Sydney, Joseph Post is making a return visit among his former orchestra, for he was stationed in Melbourne as resident conductor of the ABC's Melbourne Orchestra for several years. When the Sydney Symphony was formed on a permanent basis, with Eugene Goosens in charge, Mr Post was appointed his deputy as junior conductor to the Sydney Symphony - at the same time resuming his earlier position as director of the . . . Photo of Joseph Post. Bertha Jorgensen It is a notable occasion for music lovers when Melbourne's esteemed 'First Lady' of the Orchestra steps out of her place as leader and is heard as soloist. Bertha Jorgensen gave her first public performance as a five year old prodigy in Castlemaine, where she then lived, and a few years later she began travelling each week the 60 miles to Melbourne for lessons with Alberto Zelman, Junior. At fifteen, still adorned with pigtail, she came to Melbourne with her family and joined his orchestra. Since then Miss Jorgensen has been constantly engaged in orchestral work, and in attaining the exacting role of leader of the Melbourne Symphony is holder of a unique position. No other major orchestra in the world is led by a woman, and many are the evidences of amazement expressed by visiting conductors. Some have been taken aback and inclined to scepticism at the outset, but all have gone away with high praise for her ability. Photo of Bertha Jorgensen. Programme. Oberon. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Gavotte. L'Apres-Midi D'un Faune. Violin concerto. Allegro Moderato. Adagio. Allegro energico. Symphony. Adagio. Allegro molto. Largo. Scherzo. Allegro. Scherzo. Allegro vivace. Poco Sostenuto. Allegro con fuoco. Personnel of the Orchestra Conductor: Joseph Post. Soloist Bertha Jorgensen, Violinist. Leader of the Orchestra: Bertha Jorgenson. Violins 1: Jorgenson B. Hutchens H. Schieblich F. Prockter M. Di Gilio A. Morton K. Glassford W J. Haslam J. Violins 2: Lenzer H. Bradley R. Pattison B. Gaunson B. Tregear U. Clancy I. Violas: Kerr C. Jones G K. Roberts, W. Yoxon T. 'Cellos: Bate M. Prockter G. Fox E. Kalmikov Z. Basses: Fraillon G C. Morton W. Howley T. Flutes: Walklate A. Middlebrough G. Oboes: Richmond E. Moore K. Clarinets: White T. Anderson A. Hunt N. (Bass Clar). Bassoons: Morgan F. Horns: Norton K. Miller G. Grieves G. Hudson F. Trumpets: Simpson M. Geary J. Trombones: Codes S. McGlade J. Willis H. Tymps: Craige G. Percussion: Lighton E. Harp: Bendall A. _ Direction: Australian Broadcasting Commission, Bendigo Town Hall - Saturday, 14th August, Ginette Neveu, Violin Genius, Accompanist: Jean Neveu. Gunette, who will appear in Bendigo before her Melbourne appearances, had played with enormous success throughout the Continent, England and the Americas. During her American tour last year she was immediately re-engaged for . . . Extracts from New York Press notices agter her performances of the Brahms Violin Concert last season. . . Programme Chaconne. Sonata. Poeme. Hora Stacco. 24th Caprice. Variation on a Theme of Rossini. Bookings at Allan's from Monday, 9th August. Advertisments: R O Henderson (Beehive) Pty Ltd. Bendigo. Seymour Furs, Melbourne. C1943, 54 or 65program, theatre, melbourne symphony orchestra, capital theatre, bendigo, melbourne symphony orchestra orchestra. direction: australian broadcasting commission. conductor: joseph post. solo violinist: bertha jorgenson. wednesday 30th june, 8pm. programme 6d. australian broadcasting commission, chairman: r j f boyer, m.a. vice-chairman: e r dawes. members: sir john medley, m.a. mrs ivy kent, j s hanlon. general manager: charles moses. manager for victoria: conrad charlton. director of music: w g james. federal concert manager: r g lamb. concert manager for victoria: dorrie o'neal. photo of joseph post.bertha jorgensen gave her first public performance as a five year old prodigy in castlemaine, where she then lived lessons with alberto zelman. at fifteen she came to melbourne and joined his orchestra. miss jorgensen has attained the role of leader of the melbourne symphony a unique position. no other major orchestra in the world is led by a woman. some have been taken aback and inclined to scepticism, but all have gone away with high praise for her ability. photo of bertha jorgensen. programme. oberon. jesu, joy of man's desiring. gavotte. l'apres-midi d'un faune. violin concerto. allegro moderato. adagio. allegro energico. symphony. adagio. allegro molto. largo. scherzo. allegro. scherzo. allegro vivace. poco sostenuto. allegro con fuoco. conductor: joseph post. soloist bertha jorgensen, violinist. leader of the orchestra: bertha jorgenson. violins 1: jorgenson b. hutchens h. schieblich f. prockter m. di gilio a. morton k. glassford w j. haslam j. violins 2: lenzer h. bradley r. pattison b. gaunson b. tregear u. clancy i. violas: kerr c. jones g k. roberts, w. yoxon t. 'cellos: bate m. prockter g. fox e. kalmikov z. basses: fraillon g c. morton w. howley t. flutes: walklate a. middlebrough g. oboes: richmond e. moore k. clarinets: white t. anderson a. hunt n. (bass clar). bassoons: morgan f. horns: norton k. miller g. grieves g. hudson f. trumpets: simpson m. geary j. trombones: codes s. mcglade j. willis h. tymps: craige g. percussion: lighton e. harp: bendall a. saturday, 14th august, ginette neveu, violin genius, accompanist: jean neveu. gunette, who will appear in bendigo before her melbourne appearances, had played with enormous success throughout the continent, england and the americas. during her american tour last year she was immediately re-engaged for . . . extracts from new york press notices agter her performances of the brahms violin concert last season. . . programme chaconne. sonata. poeme. hora stacco. 24th caprice. variation on a theme of rossini. bookings at allan's from monday, 9th august. advertisments: r o henderson (beehive) pty ltd. bendigo. seymour furs, melbourne. c1943, 54 or 65