FORMAL REOPENING OF THE ZAMIA THEATRE - 23 OCTOBER 2009

The Formal Reopening of the Zamia went off smoothly and everyone seemed to have a good time.  You can see photos of those present on the Zamia Gallery.

Please note that the Zamia Theatre will be available for hire with effect from 26 October 2009.

For information please contact the Booking Manager 10:00 am - 5:00 pm on 5545 3631 or zamiabookings@mail.com

For details pertaining to Zamia Management (other than Hall Bookings) please contact zamiamanagement@yahoo.com

I was passing the Zamia today, and realised that the painting has been completed and what a splendid site she is to behold.  Looking glamourous in her new fresh colours, you can see she can't wait for opening night and all the great shows, meetings, exhibitions etc that will be able to take place once the workmen have gone.  It won't be long now, so watch this space!!!

Just a brief update to say I have placed three more photos in the Gallery; although, there isn't much difference between them.  We are not allowed to go and photograph the changes unless special permission is given, so can only take outside shots.

Still waiting to finalise the lease and from what can be seen from the outside, it certainly looks as if the refurshment is on track, time wise, so the clock is ticking down to the Grand Opening Night.  More of that on the Home Page. 

Just one slight problem: they have actually got our name wrong!  As everyone should know we are Tamborine Mountain Little Theatre: TMLT, not TMLG.  

 The rebuilding of the Zamia is in progress. A number of white ant infested beams and posts have been renewed and the interior framework is proceeding. The firewall footings have been laid and ready for the brick laying.

View from the Entrance to the back of the stage

Many members of our group and friends gathered together at the Zamia on Sunday 30 November to celebrate the first 85 years of the theatre. It has been "dark" for over two years and we are now looking forward, eagerly, to the refurbishment, so that we can continue in the fine tradition of providing good entertainment in an historic building.

To watch the video go to the Video page for Dial-up or to YouTube for High Definition broadband and widescreen viewing.You will see a choice just under the viewing window which says, watch in normal quality or watch in HD.

You can also find photos taken as well, if you go to the Gallery page.

1 December 2008

Theatre celebrates 85 years

 TAMBORINE Mountain Little Theatre (TMLT) members toasted their home on Sunday as theZamia Theatre turned 85 years old.

 TMLT president Warrick Bailey said the event was an occasion worth honouring.

"There was 20-odd people there, which was good," he said

"We had a great time.  It was the sort of thing we needed to boost morale with the current circumstances".

Mr Bailey said TMLT members were eagerly awaiting work ot start on the restoration of the theatre.

"We want to bring it to the public's attention that she is 85,

she needs to be fixed," he said.

"The Council has been very positive that they want to get it restored, that's the message we're getting".

"We're looking at getting the building to a stage where it's operational without going over budget".

"We want it fixed, it's been two and a half years now".

Council has received funds from a Q150 grant to restore the building, but must have the project completed by mid next year to be able to claim the money.

                                                      Beaudesert Times 3 December 2008

ZAMIA CLEAR UP – DAY ONE

The good news is that the contracts have been signed and the builders are due to commence the restoration on 23 February, so we decided to have a good clear out of all the stuff we need to keep and that which can be discarded.

There was a good turn out of members and we all got “stuck in” with the work.  Fortunately the weather was fine which meant that the trucks could be loaded easily, in relative comfort.

There was one incident when poor Jim Marsh put his foot down on what he thought to be part of the stage only to discover his leg had disappeared down a hole.  He was in severe pain, so an ambulance was summoned.   After having been whisked off to the Gold Coast Hospital, we were all very relieved to hear that no fractures had been sustained, however, the Doctors decided to keep him overnight and we are all hoping he can come home tomorrow. (Some folk’ll do anything to get a starring part!!!).

We will be meeting up again next Saturday, and as some of the work requires strength, we would be grateful if any able bodied men can turn up, if only for an hour; from around 9.30 am.

I have placed some photos taken today, on the Gallery page, but here is just a taster.

7 February 2009

FLASHBACK TO THE ZAMIA CLEAROUT

We were very fortunate that a local piano remover volunteered to move the TMLT piano round to the Howard's place, and this is a record of that hazardous journey.  Thanks, Kevin.

 Photo by John St. Clair's son

ZAMIA RESTORATION

The work as started at last!  Regretfully, access to the site is non-existent, so Graham has had to use the Howard's back garden to try and get some kind of photographic record of the work.  We had been hoping to have reasonable access during the restoration period to create a photographic archive to keep as part of the history of the Zamia; however, at the moment this seems unlikely.  We will endevour to change this, though, so watch this space!  

 THE RESTORATION OF THE ZAMIA IS

BACK ON TRACK

Cr Richard Adams, MP for Mansfield and Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Phil Reeves, Cr Dave Cockburn, Cr Virginia West, Mayor John Brent and Cr Heather Wehl pictured at the Zamia Theatre for the presentation of a Q150 Funding cheque for $240,000 for the restoration of the Zamia Theatre.

Tamborine Times 12 February 2009

The Tamborine Mountain News reported the following:

THERE will be a sigh of relief all around the Mountain when work starts at last on restoration of the Zamia. This much loved theatre has been a reproachful eyesore for far too long, and it was great to hear the news last Friday that work will begin this month.

Secretary to the Premier, Philip Reeves MP, came to the Mountain with Mayor John Brent on Friday to announce that the Queensland Government’s Q150 Legacy Infrastructure funding was committed for three projects in the Scenic Rim – the Zamia Theatre Renovation, Aratula Multi-Purpose Sports Complex and the Jubilee Park Recreation Precinct in Beaudesert.

“The Zamia Theatre, built in 1923, is one of Tamborine Mountain’s favourite cultural icons,” Mr Reeves said. “The funding will enable Council to restore the Zamia to its former glory, returning it to the community for use initially in local Q150 celebrations.”

The work on the Zamia will be handed over to the builder on February 23.
Derek Swanborough, Councillor for Division 1, said “This is a milestone for the Tamborine Mountain community. Many people have worked very hard to achieve this goal.”

TM LITTLE THEATRE COMMENT
It has been a long process to ensure there would be enough money to complete key aspects of the restoration, and there is still a funding shortfall. The Theatre has obtained new chairs (but never fear, the deckchairs will remain!) and new water tanks, and provided money for removal of some trees so the restoration work can begin soon.

Working bees (pictures below) will ensure key equipment such as the stage flats, deck chairs and the movie projectors have been removed for the duration of the building work. Once the building tenderer has finished its job, TMLT will need considerable assistance from the wonderful people of this community to complete the fit-out of the interior.  We will need help to finish the kitchen and the dressing rooms, to build a storage shed, and to complete a range of other tasks. We look forward to all this work being done, and to welcoming the return of theatre, music, movies and a range of other activities to the much-loved Zamia Theatre.

“We would like to thank the Council for its efforts to secure funding for this important project,” said Warwick Bailey, TMLT President.

THE RENOVATIONS COMMENCE!

Well, actually........... not quite.  I walked passed the Zamia today, and saw that the first step has been taken and fencing has been erected in readiness for the renovations to commence....on Monday, possibly?

27 February 2009

Many members of our group and friends gathered together at the Zamia on Sunday 30 November to celebrate the first 85 years of the theatre. It has been "dark" for over two years and we are now looking forward, eagerly, to the refurbishment, so that we can continue in the fine tradition of providing good entertainment in an historic building.

To watch the video go to the Video page for Dial-up or to YouTube for High Definition broadband and widescreen viewing.You will see a choice just under the viewing window which says, watch in normal quality or watch in HD.

You can also find photos taken as well, if you go to the Gallery page.

1 December 2008

ZAMIA THEATRE TO BE RESTORED AFTER BEING GRANTED FUNDS

TAMBORINE Mountain's Zamia Theatre will be restored after receiving more than $240,000 in funding from Scenic Rim Regional Council.

Council announced the funds in its budget handed down last Tuesday. The funding matches $240,000 allocated from a Q150 grant to restore the theatre.

Tamborine Mountain Little Theatre (TMLT) patron Vanessa Bull and president Warwick Bailey said the group would be pleased to have its home back. "We're feeling good," Mrs Bull said. "Plans have been done and they're ready to go out to tender. "We're hoping local builders will apply because we think you really need that emotional connection to the Zamia to work on it."

Mr Bailey said TMLT had made some requests to council in regards to the theatre. "We did have a wish list and we presented that to council," he said. "We wanted toilet facilities behind the stage and disabled facilities." Mr Bailey said council had taken TMLT suggestions on board."What we're hoping for is to apply for more funding to buy state of the art equipment," he said. Zamia Theatre's previous equipment was several decades old.

Mr Bailey said he hoped the theatre would be finished by early next year. "We would like it to be open to the public because lots of groups are looking for a home," he said. "It hasn't been easy (for TMLT) but we have used other facilities."

Mrs Bull said TMLT was planning to sign a new lease with council for the Zamia Theatre which would make the group responsible for maintenance of the theatre. "We're very thankful to the whole of the new council," she said. "I'm really pleased the Council had good faith in the project."

Mr Bailey said TMLT was grateful for the support of councillors who fought for the project. "We're grateful to the councillors too, who threw themselves behind it and supported us," he said.

(Article courtesy of Beaudesert Times, Wednesday August 6th 2008)

We are extremely grateful to the State Government’s grant system in helping us to achieve our aims in water saving measures. The old galvanized tank can be seen in the background. We are confident that we shall soon hear from the council regarding the further restoration and maintenance of the theatre. In the meantime the Tamborine Mountain Little Theatre continues its activities.