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The story of the Wynnum Star Theatre and Picture Gardens is a cherished but ultimately tragic chapter in Brisbane’s bayside history.

Located at 150 Florence Street, Wynnum, the theatre evolved from a simple open-air venue (pictured) into a grand local icon before meeting a devastating end.

The theatre was built in 1915 by Samuel Greene, a prominent local builder whose brother, John William Greene, served as the mayor of Wynnum and later as the 3rd Lord Mayor of Brisbane.

When it first opened, it operated as an open-air “picture garden"—originally named the Empire Theatre or Star Picture Pavilion. Like many early Australian cinemas, it relied on the night sky as its roof. Canvas seats were laid out, and locals could enjoy silent movies in the cool bayside breeze.

As the cinema’s popularity grew, a permanent roof was constructed, and the building transformed into a magnificent, fully enclosed venue. The front façade was instantly recognizable by the three iconic decorative stars perched prominently at the top.

During the 1930s and 1940s, the Star Theatre experienced a major boom. The arrival of “talkies” (films with synchronized sound) turned it into the premier social hub for the Wynnum-Manly community.

The Star Theatre was a vital civic space. It hosted major community gatherings, school performances, and live theatre. On 7 July 1949, the now-famous local amateur theatre group, Mercury Theatre Wynnum, staged its very first live production, Milestones, on the Star Theatre’s stage.

The story of the Star Theatre came to a sudden, heartbreaking end on the morning of Sunday, 17 May 1959. A fire broke out in an adjacent building—believed to have started from hot oil in a neighbouring fish and chip shop—and rapidly spread to the theatre. Because of the building’s age and construction materials, it was quickly engulfed in fierce flames.

Local families and children ran up Florence Street to watch in shock as the beloved landmark burned. Mid-battle, the theatre’s heavy projection room suddenly collapsed under the heat. Tragically, two brave local firefighters—Sub-Station Officer Herbert George Lees and Station Officer Sidney William Brown—were trapped and killed beneath four metres of rubble. The building was completely destroyed.

Following the fire, the site sat cleared until 1965, when it was redeveloped into a Coles New World Supermarket.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -