Redcliffe Entertainment Centre
Story-telling has been a way of communicating and preserving culture down through the ages and just as the early indigenous people used these shores as a place for story-telling, song and dance, our community continues this human tradition. How fortunate are we the residents of Redcliffe and the wider City of Moreton Bay to have The Redcliffe Entertainment Centre in which to do this.
Built in late 20th Century modernist architectural style, The Redcliffe Entertainment Centre, as it is now known was opened on 28th October 1982. This wonderful building was the culmination of 25 years of discussion, planning and action taken by several successive councils.
On the 4th of February 1981, artist Mr Norman Birrell of Mt Coolum was commissioned to undertake the production of a stained-glass mural at the estimated cost of $5,665.00 to be installed in the foyer of the Centre. A grant was obtained from the Crafts Board of the Australian Council to offset these costs. The Mural is 3 meters high and 1.8 meters wide and of a theme that relates to the history of Redcliffe.
The Opening Ceremony was a Gala Concert featuring Barry Crocker who was a very prominent entertainer. The Queensland Youth Orchestra plus many other singers, dancers and entertainers performed. It was a magnificent event for Redcliffe. The Mayor at the time, Alderman R. J. Frawley, made a stirring speech and officially declared the Redcliffe Community Centre open.
The building has had a few name changes from Community to Cultural Centre and since 2018 it has been known as Redcliffe Entertainment Centre. Various updates have been done over the years including refurbishments and replacement of amenities.
The 400-seat theatre has mounted an eclectic range of presentations, Symphony Concerts, Ballets, Musicals, Citizenship Ceremonies, Eisteddfods, and Army Band concerts, to name a few. It is a comfortable, roomy theatre enjoyed by many thousands of residents and visitors from near and far. For years movies were screened regularly and were very popular.
Spacious upper and lower foyer levels provide first class venues for displays of art and pottery. The foyer space has also been utilised for impromptu musical presentations prior to shows. Kiosk and Box Office provide an essential service to patrons.
The lower floor has three meeting rooms and two large studio rooms. These rooms have been well utilised by community groups over the years. The Sharon Alback Dance Centre moved into the dance studio the day before opening in 1982 and still uses this facility, providing a wonderful venue for fledgling dancers from near and far. The theatre of this building, The Matthew Flinders Theatre has the name of the explorer who landed and named Red Cliff Point on his chart in1799. The Amity Room, one of the meeting rooms was named for the ship which carried the convicts, soldiers and their families to Red Cliff Point to establish Queensland’s first European settlement. The two other rooms have the names of two Redcliffe Sister-Cities, Onoda and Winton and two local identities’ names were given to studio rooms Shillam and Terry Walker.
For over 40 years audiences have enjoyed a variety of performances by top artists. Local and regional groups and their participants have benefitted from the use of the venue for teaching and show-casing their events and Redcliffe Entertainment Centre continues to be an important asset for Redcliffe and the City of Moreton Bay. No doubt, as populations grow in the various towns of this city, additional community centres such as this will be needed to provide more places for story-telling and cultural enrichment.
Janet Franklin
2026
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Sand Garden Competitions on the Peninsula