THE golden age of film is returning to the Union Theatre, Wonthaggi with an exhibition showcasing vintage posters from the theatre’s 100-year history.
Running from Friday, March 21 to Monday, June 30, ‘Illuminating the Past: 100 Years of the Union Theatre Posters at Wonthaggi Union’ offers visitors a nostalgic journey through decades of cinema and live performance advertising.
The exhibition was inspired during research for the ‘It’s On at The Union’ centenary program when event organisers stumbled upon a treasure trove of promotional materials at the Wonthaggi and District Historical Society (WADHS).
David Burrows, Venue Manager at the Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre, said the discovery sparked the idea to share these historical artefacts with the community.
“We found an incredible collection of old posters while going through ephemera, articles and photographs at WADHS. These posters offer a unique insight into the cultural history of the theatre,” Mr Burrows said.
The selection process focused on posters that reflected the venue’s history and cultural evolution over the decades. While some highlight major film screenings, others promote jubilees and live performances. Mr Burrows noted that in today’s world of highly sophisticated marketing, these older posters offer a simpler, more nostalgic aesthetic.
“The average person today is highly literate in reading marketing materials. There’s a sentimental pleasure in seeing the styles from bygone days when posters were less about high-end design and more about straightforward communication,” he said.
Among the highlights is the ‘Back to Wonthaggi Jubilee – Celebrity Concert’ poster, which Mr Burrows finds particularly fascinating.
“It has so little information – it just wouldn’t fly today. No address, no details about the TV stars, no explanation of what the event was actually about. It’s more like a business card than a promotional poster, but that’s what makes it such a fantastic cultural artefact,” he said.
Curating the exhibition was a careful process, balancing the historical significance of the posters with the practicalities of display. The lightbox orientation influenced how posters were selected, and digitisation was necessary to ensure the materials could be effectively exhibited.
Burrows credited the Wonthaggi and District Historical Society for their enthusiasm and assistance in sourcing the posters.
“The WADHS is a wonderful resource for our community. Their members were incredibly supportive, offering access to their collection and sharing their deep knowledge,” he said.
Irene Williams, Secretary of WADHS, explained that the posters were originally collected by the Chambers and Quilford families and have been well preserved over the years.
“We’re fortunate to have a climate-controlled storage facility to ensure these historical pieces remain in good condition. Everything is carefully catalogued and handled with care when displayed,” Williams said.
Williams also highlighted how the use of posters has changed over time.
“Back then, posters were plastered on billboards all around town. People didn’t call it ‘the movies’ – we always said we were going to ‘the pictures’,” she said.
Beyond the exhibition, the Union Theatre has a packed calendar of events in the coming months. Highlights include ‘Josephine Wants to Dance’ on Wednesday, April 9, ‘Mark Seymour and the Undertow’ on Friday, May 9, and the ‘Victorian State Ballet’s Beauty and the Beast’ on Friday, September 5.
Film lovers can also look forward to an Autumn School Holiday Cinema program featuring major releases such as Minecraft: The Movie, Alto Knights, and Mickey 17.
For more information on upcoming events, visit basscoastculturalvenues.com.
