Image

1- Theatre Royal, 2016. Authors own. Nicolas McDonald

Theatre Royal Castlemaine: The

Theatre and its community

Castlemaines centre of theatre and

was a place for people to gather

entertainment, starting in the gold

from the local townships and

rush of the mid 1800s was the

discuss the good times and

Theatre Royal, a place that brought

difficulties. The Theatre Royal was

the community together for

linked to the good and bad times

multiple reasons. A venue that was

that Castlemaine went through,

more than just a hotel or theatre, it

from the towns grandeur during the

gold rush, to its slower times doing

the early 20th century and then to

Hotel and Town Population Growth

the modern day as a historical

The development of the Theatre

tourist town. The Theatre Royal

royal during the

suffered many tragedies from being

burnt down, to being run down and
facing decline when times got
tough. But it always managed to be
a venue that was reborn thanks to

restore and treasure a venue that

Image 2- View of Castlemaine town,

1858. Courtesy: Culture Victoria.

was always and is still a part of the

Victorian gold rush and

Castlemaine story. Throughout its

Castlemaines expansion through

life, the function of the Theatre

the wealth of gold mining, is linked

Royal has changed and evolved, as

in their evolution as a town that

the community continued to look

pushed for increased population

for modern ways to keep its life

and needed to create a place that

going, while always being a vital

could bring people together to form

part of Castlemaine and its

a strong community. The Victorian

community.

gold rush had a dramatic effect on

the community who looked to

the colonial town of Castlemaine, it

was focused on gold mining which

created the chance for people from
all over the world to head to
Victoria and try to strike big by
finding gold. This led to the creation
of the Theatre Royal which as The
Age mentions that during the

Image 3- Map of Castlemaine, 2015.

Courtesy:
thetheatreroyalcastlemaine.com.au.

diggings days, was capable of
bringing the most celebrated artists
to play at the venue.

The importance of gold mining to

The Theatre Royals evolution came

the development of the Theatre

because of this population increase,

Royal as well as Castlemaine itself,

with theatres, hotels and inns being

cannot be overstated. Gold mining

established in towns all over central

in areas in central Victoria like

Victoria. These hotels and

Castlemaine witnessed a rapid

entertainment venues became

development of towns and a large

important places for their

population increase. This was due to

communities to gather, with a lot of

the fact that from 1851 to 1861

the hotels having entertainment

Victoria saw an increase of its

venues attached to them. Just like

population from 77,345 to 538,628.2

the Theatre Royal, they often

functioned as coffee shops, lodging

in order to save the Theatre

and entertainment venues.3 This

because it was such an important

increase of population lead to a

structure and venue to the town.5

larger importance being placed on

This population growth had placed

the hospitality sector in towns like

such a strong value on the Theatre

Castlemaine. This gave them the

Royal and further shaped the

opportunity to create more jobs as

evolution of the building from being

well as improving the conditions of

primarily lodgings, into a venue that

the sleeping quarters for incoming

could would grow into the civic hub

travelers trying to find their fortune

of Castlemaine and be a primary

on the central Victorian goldfields.4

location for locals and new comers

to come together as an expanding

Image 4- Fire at Castlemaine, 1857.

Courtesy: Trove.

The theatre saw trouble during the
gold rush when it got burnt down in
1857. This resulted in the rebuilding
of the venue from local sources,
such as sandstone, which was

community. The Theatre royal like

many of the other venues being
created around central Victoria,
grew in reputation just like the town
they were situated in. For this kind
of venue, the Theatre Royal was
able to attract all kinds of different
artists into Castlemaine and bring

brought together by the community

the wider community together to

Sir Nicholas Fitzgerald was one man

socialise at these shows while

who used the Theatre Royal as a

creating a strong community bond.

forum to interact with the

community of Castlemaine, and

Assembly Hall and Theatre

would become the representative

The entertainment side of the

for the North-Western provinces,

Theatre Royal allowed the venue to

although in 1864 he was only a

really develop and become a hot

candidate for that role. He used the

spot for acts in central Victoria. It

Theatre Royal to bring the

allowed traveling artists to come to

community together in 1864 to

Castlemaine and perform in front of

address community problems that

communities that were thriving off

they were having, from agriculture

the gold that was being mined, as

to legislation.6 The venue held the

well as being an important place for

hotel at the front while the back

community issues to be discussed in

was an assembly hall and stage for

an open forum.

traveling theatre acts coming

through to perform for the
community. Because of its many

Image 5- Town meeting, 1864.

Courtesy: Trove.

uses, the Theatre Royal became the

type of venue that held importance

for many aspects of the towns

Sleeping beauty, this play is

needs. The Theatre Royal had

described in two separate

become a civic hub for the

newspaper articles form two

community of Castlemaine that

different papers. First from the The

reflected the growth and needs of

Star in Ballarat, describing the show

the community that could and

as one with scenery and effects that

would work as a vital part of the

are both magnificent and startling.8

town for public meetings for people

The second from the Mount

to express their problems with

Alexander mail which was

certain aspects of Castlemaine and

Castlemaines local paper from

the surrounding areas.7 The ability

eighteen fifty-four until nineteen

to hold public meetings gave the

seventeen, the piece describes the

venue a face and reputation as

desire for the show and its unique

somewhere that was important to

style to be shown in Castlemaine, to

the town, with being an

bring the talent to Castlemaine.9

entertainment venue as well,

allowed artists to perform different
types of shows at the venue. One
such act was the J. R. Planches
burlesque style show titled

Image 6- Hargraves Street, 19201950. Courtesy: State Library of

Victoria.

Courtesy State Library of Victoria.

The theatre royal had the ability to

Decline and New Life
stand out as an important feature of

The late 19th and early 20th took its

Castlemaine. Their evolution as a

toll on the Theatre Royal as it fell
town and venue went hand in hand
into disrepair due to a variety of
with the population increase, and
reasons. In 1898 it was recorded in
this gave the theatre royal a life and
The Age just how bad some of the
importance to the local community
disrepair was, reporting that it had
during the goldfield era of
dry rot, a leaky roof, that the entire
Castlemaine. The Theatre Royal
structure could come down, and
would follow Castlemaine evolution
th

that there was no escape from the

by the end of the 19 , and would

dressing room if a fire on in the
suffer from the end of the gold rush,

venue occurred.10 One major factor

resulting in a neglected life that

behind the disrepair of the Theatre
came from that end.
Royal was the fact that Castlemaine
was suffering what many central
Victorian towns had after the end of
the gold rush. When once
Image 7- Theatre Royal, 1970-1974.

Castlemaine had flourished and

looked to expand, it now had stalled

towns past as it had been already

in its development. While it did not

through its glory days, because they

stall completely, this change made a

had once seen the future of a town

drastic difference from the once hot

like Castlemaine being such a

spot for miners moving to

promising future. Castlemaine is

Castlemaine.11 The slower

described in the book the Struggle

population growth of the town

Country that it was once a thriving

meant that other meeting places

town that was now in a bad state of

would used for public meetings and

decay and that would need to look

pubs would used for socializing. This

to the government to help to bring

limited the need for a venue such as

it back to how it was in great

the Theatre Royal and prevented it

historical past.12 This inherent

from thriving. Because of this it had

decline of Castlemaines fortunes as

less of an appeal and reputation

a town, went hand in hand with the

than it had in its glory days on the

decline of the Theatre Royal during

goldfields during the gold rush.

the late nineteenth and early

Local historians and local people

twentieth centuries.

started to take the view that towns

like Castlemaine had a historical end
point, while tending to look at the

would be then developed into a

new type of entertainment venue
that would place it as a highlight of
twentieth century Castlemaine. In
1911 the Theatre got renovated,
Image 8- Movies and events, 2016.

this time losing the Hotel at the

Authors own

front of the building. The Theatre

Royal was turned into a cinema for

Without the influx of people coming

the local community to enjoy

to Castlemaine for mining job

moving pictures in a venue that

opportunities it did not require a

continued to have the design of an

top of the line entertainment venue

old building structure but with

that could draw in theatre

newly styled inside.13 The theatre in

companies and burlesque shows

Modern times has stayed very

from across the country and around

similar to the purpose given to it in

the world. However, the Theatre

1911, and is still the local cinema for

and the town of Castlemaine would

Castlemaine. It still has an early 20th

not stay in a state of decline. As

century style from the outside but

time progressed, so would the

has a more modern style inside the

evolution of the theatre which

venue, with only slight changes to

the purpose of the venue. It now

the venue had for the community of

functions not only as a cinema but

Castlemaine, both past and present.

also as a caf-bar and live music

It was and still is a place that brings

venue.

families and friends together to

discuss their lives, the town and to
enjoy entertainment through a
variety of different ways. This
variety demonstrates the
importance the Theatre Royal had

Image 9- Caf and bar, 2016.

on the town and its community. It

Authors own

played such a vital role in the

community that it would always was

The evolution of the Theatre Royal

looked at to be rebuilt and reused.

helped by the community, started

From its birth to its current use, the

as a hotel and assembly hall, to

theatre was shaped by the people

theatre, and finally to a cinema,

of Castlemaine for their purpose of

caf-bar and live music venue. This

keeping the community strong and

extensive evolution throughout the

together.

years demonstrates the importance

10



1
Castlemaine, The Age, 9 September 1910, 8, available from Trove,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191343768, viewed 28 September 20016.
2
Erik Eklund, Mining in Australia: An historical survey of Industry-Community
Relationships, The Extractive Industries and Society, 2/1 (2015), 178
3
Ian Clark and David Cahir, The Comfort of Strangers: hospitality on the Victorian Goldfield,
1850-1860, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 15/1 (2008), 3
4
Ian Clark and G. Barry OMahoney, From Inns to Hotels: the evolution of public houses in
colonial Victoria, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 25/2
(2013), 180
5
Fire at Castlemaine., Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 16 November 1857, 2, available from
Trove, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1132335381 , viewed 9 October 2016.
6
Mr Fitzgerald at Castlemaine, Mount Alexander Mail, 18 October 1864, p.3, available
from Trove http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197544827 , viewed 18 August 2016.
7
Ian Clark and David Cahir, 2008, 3
8
Public Amusements, The Star, 10 January 1859, 2, available from Trove
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66333286 , viewed 1 October 2016.
9
J. C. Rainer, The Theatre: Theatre Royal Castlemaine, Mount Alexander Mail, 1 April 1859,
5, available from Trove http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199049583 , viewed 30 September
2016.
10
The Castlemaine Theatre Royal, The Age, 9 September 1898, 3, available from Trove
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article192581551 , viewed 30 September 2016.
11
Graeme Davison and Marc Brodie, Struggle Country: The Rural Ideal in the Twentieth
Century Australia (Clayton: Monash University epress, 2005), 138
12
Ibid. 143
13
The Theatre Royal, Mount Alexander Mail, 15 April 1911, 2, available from Trove
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199015865 , viewed 9 October 2016.

Illustrations
1- Authors own, 9 October 2016.
2- Daintree, Richard, View of Castlemaine town, (1858),
http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/stories/a-diverse-state/the-welshswagman/castlemaine.htm, viewed 9 October2016.
3-Map, (2015), http://theatreroyalcastlemaine.com.au/live.htm. Viewed 17
August 2016.
4- Fire at Castlemaine., Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 16 Nov. 1857, 2, in
Trove [online database], accessed 9 Oct. 2016.
5- Mr. Fitzgerald at Castlemaine, Mount Alexander Mail, Tue 18 Oct. 1864,
p.3, in Trove [online database], accessed 18 Aug. 2016.
6- Rose Stereograph co, Hargreaves Street, Castlemaine, c.1920-1950,
http://search.slv.gov.au/Main:Everything:slv_voyager1644285, viewed 17
August 2016.

11

7- Committee for Urban Action (Melbourne, Vic.), Hargraves Street,

Castlemaine, from Mostyn Street to Forest Street, east side, 1970-1974,
available from State Library of Victoria,
http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/Main:Everything:slv_voyager3326134, viewed 17
August 2016.
8- Authors own, 9 October 2016.
9- Authors own, 9 October 2016.

Bibliography

Primary
Castlemaine, The Age, 9 September 1910, 8, available from Trove,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191343768, viewed 28 September 20016.

Fire at Castlemaine., Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 16 November 1857, 2,
available from Trove, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1132335381 , viewed 9
October 2016.

Mr Fitzgerald at Castlemaine, Mount Alexander Mail, 18 October 1864, p.3,
available from Trove http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197544827 , viewed 18
August 2016.

Public Amusements, The Star, 10 January 1859, 2, available from Trove
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66333286 , viewed 1 October 2016.

Rainer, J. C The Theatre: Theatre Royal Castlemaine, Mount Alexander Mail, 1
April 1859, 5, available from Trove http://nla.gov.au/nla.newsarticle199049583 , viewed 30 September 2016.

The Castlemaine Theatre Royal, The Age, 9 September 1898, 3, available from
Trove http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article192581551 , viewed 30 September
2016.

The Theatre Royal, Mount Alexander Mail, 15 April 1911, 2, available from
Trove http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199015865 , viewed 9 October 2016.
Secondary
Clark, Ian and Cahir, David, The Comfort of Strangers: hospitality on the
Victorian Goldfield, 1850-1860, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism
Management, 15/1 (2008), 2-7.

12

Clark, Ian and OMahoney, G. Barry, From Inns to Hotels: the evolution of
public houses in colonial Victoria, International Journal of Contemporary
Hospitality Management, 25/2 (2013), 172-186.

Eklund, Erik, Mining in Australia: An historical survey of Industry-Community
Relationships, The Extractive Industries and Society, 2/1 (2015), 177-188.

Davison, Graeme and Brodie, Marc, Struggle Country: The Rural Ideal in the
Twentieth Century Australia (Clayton: Monash University Epress, 2005).

13