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

Royal Princess Theatre Eight First Birthday Souvenir Programme, 31st August, 1955. 1874 - 1955. Manager: Don Vincent. Price - Sixpence. Proceeds: Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund. The Royal Princess Theatre. In May, 1874, the late John Crowley, at a cost of 12,000 pounds the Royal Princess Theatre. It was opened on 31st August, 1874, on which occasion the 'Grand Duchess of Gerolstein' was performed. It was in January, 1904, that the Theatre was closed until April, 1905, for re-construction at a cost of 5,000 pounds. Further alterations were made I 1936 when the old circle and the gallery was converted into the present circle and loge, the cost on this occasion was 14,000 pounds. At the Royal Princess has been seen every form of entertainment known in the world. Operas, including Gilbert and Sullivan, Shakespearean plays, Minstrels, Pantomime, Circus (Wirth's making their first appearance in1887), Drama, Revues, Magicians, and the latest medium of entertainment Ice Revue. Of the many shows presented on stage of the theatre, I feel none has survived as long, or as well, as 'Charley's Aunt.' The companies to present their performances have been many and varied, but among an imposing list, the names of Charles Holloway, The Royal English Opera Company, J. C. Williamson Co., and Royal Comic Opera Coy., will long be remembered. The line of notable personalities who have appeared on the stage is long also, and includes such names as John McCormack, Clara Butt, Harry Lauder, Peter Dawson and more recently Jessie Mathews and John Calvert. But of all these and many others, I am sure none can ever compare with the wonderful performances by the late Dame Nellie Melba, who gave her farewell performance in September, 1921. It is interesting to note that Dame Nellie Melba, gave two farewell performances. The first was in February, 1886, when she made a last appearance as Mrs Armstrong, to later become Madame Melba. The first competition of the Austral Society was held in the Theatre in May, 1897, and the first living pictures were seen in August, 1899. The London Bioscope Co. presented 'Struck Oil,' with Maggie Moore, in February, 1901 (Maggie Moore had appeared in the stage play or the same name many times earlier). However, it was not until 1910 that the Royal Princess was mainly used for pictures, and of course, since that year, that has been the principle form of entertainment presented. It was Easter, 1930, that the first talkie, 'The Desert Song,' was screened and then followed coloured films, and now in 1955 the latest in film development - Cinemascope has been installed. This installation caused, for the first time in many years, alterations to the back stage to enable the large 30ft. Screen to be quickly removed ready for any 'live' performances. In 1937 the Royal Princess came under the Management of Northern Amusements Pty. Ltd., a unit of the Woodrow Corporation Ltd., whose policy it is to bring in entertainment to Bendigo, and I, as their representative will carry on the traditions of the past, and make the Royal Princess truly a Home of Entertainment. Don Vincent, Manager. Wednesday, 31st August, 1955 on the stage. Eagelhawk Brass Band. Official cutting of the Bithday Cake and its presentation to the Matron of the Benoevolent Home by His Worship the Mayor of Bendigo (The cake kindly donated by Friedrich & Bassemir). Presentation of the Travel Voucher for a 10 day Luxury Coach Tour on behalf of Pioneer Coaches Ltd., to the licky couple winning the recent 25th Wedding Anniversary Contest, by His Worship the Mayor of Eaglehawk. 'Progress of Fashion by Bendigo Fashion House including A Tableaux of 7 Bridal Ensembles. Miss 1874 Gertrude Perry, Misses 1955 Rosemary Lorenz, Lorraine Foley, Joan Pinder, Pauline Kim, Shirley Morgan, Pat Ferrari, Wilma Breerton. Make - up by Helen Lang Beauty Salon. 81st Birthday Performance on the screen. Newsreels, Cartoons, Shorts, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Photograph: The Staff of the Royal Princess, under the Management of Mr Don Vincent, who are at your service. Hearing Aids are now installed in all parts of the Theatre, Doctors or Nurses on call may leave their names at the pay-box. Advertisements for Bendigo businesses: Radio Taxis, Kings Dry Cleaners, John V. Schenck Art Florist, Morley Johnsons everything for the home, Ron Meurer fridges, The Melody Bar, music. Program comprises of two sheets of paper.program, theatre, royal princess theatre, royal princess theatre eight first birthday souvenir programme, 31st august, 1955. 1874 - 1955. manager: don vincent. price - sixpence. proceeds: cinematograph trade benevolent fund. the royal princess theatre. in may, 1874, the late john crowley, at a cost of 12, 000 pounds the royal princess theatre. opened on 31st august, 1874, 'grand duchess of gerolstein' was performed. 1904, the theatre was closed until 1905, for re-construction. further alterations 1936 when the old circle and the gallery was converted into the present circle and loge, 14, 000 pounds. seen every form of entertainment known in the world. operas, including gilbert and sullivan, shakespearean plays, minstrels, pantomime, circus (wirth's making their first appearance in1887), drama, revues, magicians, and the latest medium of entertainment ice revue. 'charley's aunt.' the companies have been many and varied, charles holloway, the royal english opera company, j. c. williamson co., and royal comic opera coy., john mccormack, clara butt, harry lauder, peter dawson and more recently jessie mathews and john calvert. dame nellie melba, who gave her farewell performance in september, 1921. it is interesting to note that dame nellie melba, gave two farewell performances. the first was in february, 1886, when she made a last appearance as mrs armstrong, to later become madame melba. the first competition of the austral society was held in the theatre in may, 1897, the first living pictures in august, 1899. the london bioscope co. presented 'struck oil, ' with maggie moore, in february, 1901 (maggie moore had appeared in the stage play or the same name many times earlier). by1910 that the royal princess was mainly used for pictures, has been the principle form of entertainment presented. it was easter, 1930, that the first talkie, 'the desert song, ' was screened and then coloured films, now 1955 the latest in film development - cinemascope has been installed, alterations to the back stage to enable the large 30ft. screen to be quickly removed 'live' performances. in 1937 the management of northern amusements pty. ltd., a unit of the woodrow corporation ltd., 1955. eagelhawk brass band. official cutting of the bithday cake and its presentation to the matron of the benoevolent home by his worship the mayor of bendigo (the cake kindly donated by friedrich & bassemir). presentation of the travel voucher for a 10 day luxury coach tour on behalf of pioneer coaches ltd., to the licky couple winning the recent 25th wedding anniversary contest, by his worship the mayor of eaglehawk. 'progress of fashion by bendigo fashion house including a tableaux of 7 bridal ensembles. miss 1874 gertrude perry, misses 1955 rosemary lorenz, lorraine foley, joan pinder, pauline kim, shirley morgan, pat ferrari, wilma breerton. make - up by helen lang beauty salon. 81st birthday performance on the screen. newsreels, cartoons, shorts, seven brides for seven brothers. photograph: the staff of the royal princess, under the management of mr don vincent, who are at your service. hearing aids are now installed in all parts of the theatre, doctors or nurses on call may leave their names at the pay-box. advertisements for bendigo businesses: radio taxis, kings dry cleaners, john v. schenck art florist, morley johnsons everything for the home, ron meurer fridges, the melody bar, music. royal princess theatre eight first birthday souvenir programme, 31st august, 1955. 1874 - 1955. manager: don vincent. price - sixpence. proceeds: cinematograph trade benevolent fund. the royal princess theatre. in may, 1874, the late john crowley, at a cost of 12, 000 pounds the royal princess theatre. opened on 31st august, 1874, 'grand duchess of gerolstein' was performed. 1904, the theatre was closed until 1905, for re-construction. further alterations 1936 when the old circle and the gallery was converted into the present circle and loge, 14, 000 pounds. seen every form of entertainment known in the world. operas, including gilbert and sullivan, shakespearean plays, minstrels, pantomime, circus (wirth's making their first appearance in1887), drama, revues, magicians, and the latest medium of entertainment ice revue. 'charley's aunt.' the companies have been many and varied, charles holloway, the royal english opera company, j. c. williamson co., and royal comic opera coy., john mccormack, clara butt, harry lauder, peter dawson and more recently jessie mathews and john calvert. dame nellie melba, who gave her farewell performance in september, 1921. it is interesting to note that dame nellie melba, gave two farewell performances. the first was in february, 1886, when she made a last appearance as mrs armstrong, to later become madame melba. the first competition of the austral society was held in the theatre in may, 1897, the first living pictures in august, 1899. the london bioscope co. presented 'struck oil, ' with maggie moore, in february, 1901 (maggie moore had appeared in the stage play or the same name many times earlier). by1910 that the royal princess was mainly used for pictures, has been the principle form of entertainment presented. it was easter, 1930, that the first talkie, 'the desert song, ' was screened and then coloured films, now 1955 the latest in film development - cinemascope has been installed, alterations to the back stage to enable the large 30ft. screen to be quickly removed 'live' performances. in 1937 the management of northern amusements pty. ltd., a unit of the woodrow corporation ltd., 1955. eagelhawk brass band. official cutting of the bithday cake and its presentation to the matron of the benoevolent home by his worship the mayor of bendigo (the cake kindly donated by friedrich & bassemir). presentation of the travel voucher for a 10 day luxury coach tour on behalf of pioneer coaches ltd., to the licky couple winning the recent 25th wedding anniversary contest, by his worship the mayor of eaglehawk. 'progress of fashion by bendigo fashion house including a tableaux of 7 bridal ensembles. miss 1874 gertrude perry, misses 1955 rosemary lorenz, lorraine foley, joan pinder, pauline kim, shirley morgan, pat ferrari, wilma breerton. make - up by helen lang beauty salon. 81st birthday performance on the screen. newsreels, cartoons, shorts, seven brides for seven brothers. photograph: the staff of the royal princess, under the management of mr don vincent, who are at your service. hearing aids are now installed in all parts of the theatre, doctors or nurses on call may leave their names at the pay-box. advertisements for bendigo businesses: radio taxis, kings dry cleaners, john v. schenck art florist, morley johnsons everything for the home, ron meurer fridges, the melody bar, music.

a/ Town Hall, Bendigo, John Brownlee (Baritone), Associate Artist: Raymond Lambert (Pianist). Thursday, 5th June. Presented by The Australian Broadcasting Commission. John Brownlee Since he last visited Australian John Brownlee has been leading baritone of the Metropolitan Opera, New York. He had an enormous success with his singing and acting in the Metropolitan's recent new version of Fledermaus (Strauss), which had to be performed an unprecedented number of . . . Programme . . . Programme Notes . . . Photo of John Brownlee on cover, photo of Raymond Lambert on last page. Australian Broadcasting Commission: R J F Boyer, M.A., Chairman. E R Dawes, Vice-Chairman. Sir John Medley, KT, DCL, LLD, MA. P W Nette, P Vanthoff, MVO. TH Hon. C W Anderson, MLC. The Hon. Dame Enis Lyons, GBE. Charles Moses General Manager, Conrad Charlton Manager for Victoria, Dorrie O'Neil Concert Manager for Victoria. Advertisements: Victorian Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: Juan Jose Castro (Eminent South American Conductor). The ABC Presents Elena Nikolaidi, (Greek Dramatic Contralto). Town Hall, Bendigo, 15th July. Associate Artist: Jan Behr, Pianist. Burl Ives, America's Mightiest Ballad-Singer. 10th July. Georges of Collins Street. Furniture. Penfold Wine. Wynvale Wines. WEIGH and CONSIDER. Read not . . . To rake for granted . . . When the man in the street weighs and considers railway facts, he finds the Victorian system very much closer with the enormous tonnage of freight they hail for him and his fellows . . . The fruit he has for breakfast, his regular week-end joint, the flour in his daily bread, the timber, perhaps, for his house, the fuel for his factory, the products he has sold. Victoria’s railways moved, all told, more than seven million tons last year. Goods for home, factory, farm, warehouse. Goods that met basic needs and brought profit. Goods that were carried at the almost absurdly low average rate of 2.26d. A ton. Mile. Was all that Taken for granted? You should know: you are the man in the street. We know only what was done: we provided the RAILWAY PLANNED SERVICE b/ Insert: Please note the following alteration to item No. 2 ETUDE PATETICO, OP. 8, NO. 12 - Scriabin which has now been replaced by. . . c/ Capital Theatre 9, 10, 11 July Bendigo Book at Allan's. Victoria's Traveling Theatre proudly Presents The National Theatre Company - Direct from the Princess Theatre, Melbourne. Bernard Shaw's Greatest Play 'Saint Joan' (The Story of Joan of Arc) Produced by WM. P. Carr with June Brunell and Full National Theatre Cast. The biggest dramatic production to tour Victoria. (on rear) One Of The Greatest Plays Of Our Time, Critics from Melb. Herald, Melb. Advocate, Melb. Sun, Melb. Age, Melb. Argus, and Melb. Post. Renwick Pride.program, theatre, australian broadcasting commission, a/ town hall, bendigo, john brownlee (baritone), associate artist: raymond lambert (pianist). thursday, 5th june. presented by the australian broadcasting commission. john brownlee has been leading baritone of the metropolitan opera, new york photo of john brownlee on cover, photo of raymond lambert on last page. abc: r j f boyer, m.a., chairman. e r dawes, vice-chairman. sir john medley, kt, dcl, lld, ma. p w nette, p vanthoff, mvo. th hon. c w anderson, mlc. the hon. dame enis lyons, gbe. charles moses general manager, conrad charlton manager for victoria, dorrie o'neil concert manager for victoria. advertisements: victorian symphony orchestra, conductor: juan jose castro. elena nikolaidi, 15th july. associate artist: jan behr, pianist. burl ives, america's mightiest ballad-singer. 10th july. georges of collins street. furniture. penfold wine. wynvale wines. weigh and consider. read not . . . to rake for granted . . . when the man in the street weighs and considers railway facts, he finds the victorian system very much closer with the enormous tonnage of freight they hail for him and his fellows . . . the fruit he has for breakfast, his regular week-end joint, the flour in his daily bread, the timber, perhaps, for his house, the fuel for his factory, the products he has sold. victoria’s railways moved, all told, more than seven million tons last year. goods for home, factory, farm, warehouse. goods that met basic needs and brought profit. goods that were carried at the almost absurdly low average rate of 2.26d. a ton. mile. was all that taken for granted? you should know: you are the man in the street. we know only what was done: we provided the railway planned service b/ insert: please note the following alteration to item no. 2 etude patetico, op. 8, no. 12 - scriabin which has now been replaced by. . . c/ capital theatre 9, 10, 11 july bendigo book at allan's. victoria's traveling theatre proudly presents the national theatre company - direct from the princess theatre, melbourne. bernard shaw's greatest play 'saint joan' produced by wm. p. carr with june brunell and full national theatre cast. one of the greatest plays of our time, criticts from melb. herald, advocate, sun, age, argus, &. post. renwick pride.

The Royal Princess Theatre, Bendigo. Monday June 10th, 1907. First Australian Tour of Marie Hall. Direction J & N Tait. Pianist Lonie Basche. Marie Hall's Recital. Programme:Violin Solo-Concert in E Major. Piano Solos- Etude in E Major, Black Key Study, Valse in A Flat. Violin Solos-Humoreske, Fantasia 'Old England. Piano Solos-Liebestraume, Marche Militaire. Vioin Solos-Ave Maria, The Bee, Zephyr, Hejre Kati. Messrs. J & N Tait have great pleasure in announcing their intention of arranging for the appeaance in Bendigo of 'The Royal Besses O' Th' Barn Band' towards the end of July, and 'Madame Clara Butt, and Mr Kennerley Rumford, together with a Hall Concert Party, about the middle of September. The 'London Daily Telegraph' calls Clara Butt 'The Custodiam of the voice of a century.' Advertising on rear cover.Atlas Press, Melb.program, theatre, the royal princess theatre, bendigo

Nunawading upholsterer completes restoration work for the Princess Theatre.Nunawading upholsterer completes restoration work for the Princess Theatre.upholsterers, bracken, ray