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Taken on: July 3, 2022

Uploaded on: November 15, 2023

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Bendigo - Founded as a sheep run in 1840, the city’s official name was Sandhurst until 1891, when it was formally changed to honour a local prizefighter who compared his own prowess to that of the English pugilist known as Bendigo. Declared a municipal district in 1855 and a shire in 1863, Bendigo became a city in 1871.

Image - Original drawing of the Sandhurst Theatre, to be known as The Royal Princess.

One of Bendigo’s most treasured theatres, The Royal Princess Theatre, opened on 31 August 1874.

Everything from vaudeville to classical theatrical productions, pantomimes, vocal and music recitals, opera, ballet and elocutionary competitions were presented on the Princess’ stage with a constant stream of reputed local, national and international artists and touring companies to sustain them.

By the beginning of the 20th century, the Royal Princess and the Masonic theatre (now The Capital) had quickly embraced the phenomenon of moving pictures with the latter host to some of the first film screenings in Bendigo courtesy of travelling picture show-men.

An immediate hit with audiences moving pictures transitioned quickly from being a novelty, sometimes screened as filler between vaudeville acts, to being the main event.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -