1981

The Geelong Arts Centre was officially opened in April 1981 as Geelong Performing Arts Centre, a haven for new and emerging performing arts talent in our community. 

Part of GPAC ran out of the old Mechanic’s Institute, which was originally built as a wooden building on Malop Street in 1846. After moving around Geelong, the institute settled on its Ryrie Street premises in 1856. This was where all the town’s art exhibitions were held before Geelong Gallery was founded in 1896. 

After the building was devastated by fire in 1927, it was rebuilt as the Mechanic’s Hall in 1928. Soon the Mechanic’s Hall became a cinema known as the Plaza Theatre, and then eventually became GPAC.