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History of The Capital building

The National Trust-listed building now known as The Capital was originally the Sandhurst Masonic Hall.

The hall was designed by two prominent Freemasons, W.C. Vahland and Robert Getzschmann. The foundation stone for the building was laid on 24 June 1873. When built, this space was the largest hall in Victoria apart from the Melbourne Town Hall.

The main building frontage extends 60 metres along View Street. As you climb the bluestone steps look up at the façade rising 20 metres above the street. Six 10-metre Corinthian-style pillars are decorated with an ornate frieze and cornices, and topped with pediments with decorative moulded coping. The building is topped with a large triangular pediment.

The Capital Theatre was closed in the 1970s after almost a century of staging opera, drama, dance and cinema.

In late 1987, in response to a community campaign to save the theatre, 3 of the 5 Bendigo municipalities – Marong, Strathfieldsaye and Eaglehawk – purchased the building from the Masons. With the financial support of State and Local Government, private and public subscriptions and overwhelming community support, renovations, costing around $6 million, started in 1989 and the building was officially reopened by the former Premier, Mrs. Joan Kirner on 26 April 1991.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -