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Bondi Pavilion

  • Things to do
  • Bondi Beach
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Time Out says

The Bondi Pavilion started life as the Bondi Municipal Surf Sheds, a series of 1,000 dressing sheds dedicated to the “clean and healthful pastime of surf bathing”. Work on the current Pavilion started in 1928, opening the following year with dining rooms, cabaret, ballroom and the Turkish and Hot Sea Water Baths (which flopped, closing in 1932 with the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club taking over the space).

For the next few years many businesses came and went before the building was accidentally damaged in military explosions during WWII: in the hopes of preventing Japanese invasion, the underground passages leading to the beach were blasted closed, using more explosives than were required – the blast damaged the Pavilion, the surf club and took out windows all along Campbell Parade.

The building was repaired and held dances through the ’40s, but the glory days were over: by the ’70s the place was barely used, with Councillor David Taylor telling the Sun-Herald in 1975, “I’d like to put a bomb under the Bondi Pavilion and a new start made on a casino.”

Thankfully neither happened: the Bondi Theatre Group converted the former Palm Court Ballroom into a theatre in 1974, starting the venue’s new life as an arts centre, despite a community-defeated attempt by the council to sell the place to commercial concerns in the late ’80s. The building is now safe on the NSW heritage register and is currently an arts and cultural centre, home to the Tamarama Rock Surfers theatre group, a rehearsal and recording studio, and the Bondi Pavilion Gallery.

For more information on the Bondi Beach area, see Bondi Beach.

Written by Andrew P Street

Details

Address:
Queen Elizabeth Dr
Bondi
Sydney
2026
Opening hours:
Office hours: Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm; Sat-Sun 10am-5pmGallery hours: Daily 10am-5pm

What’s on

Don Juan

  • Comedy

When was the last time you went to see a show and the actors met you at the door, got you a drink and then flirted with you? Probably never. Luckily that’s about to change, as the Bondi Pavilion presents the Slightly Isolated Dog Production: Don Juan. This sexy and hilarious show supported by Creative New Zealand will tickle you in ways you've never been tickled, and more! If you aren’t familiar with the original master of seduction Don Juan, then strap in (or strap on) because the story of this lustful fictional man will be retold to you by five dazzling performers. The charming cast is made up of five Kiwis putting on a French accent, so you’re guaranteed a chaotic hour of fun.  The show combines physical comedy, twisted pop songs, explosive wit and a wild dress-up party for what promises to be a hilarious and raucous time. Not only are the cast having a boisterous time on stage, but they intend to bring you along for the ride too — telling the story of Don Juan with you.  Check out this fun production at Bondi Pavilion from May 23 until May 25. Tickets range from $20-$40, with under 30s getting $20 tickets plus booking. For more info, head to the website.

Dear Diary

Not to be rude, but do you realise that it’s been a little over two decades since the early 2000s – when we all had Spice Girls posters tacked to our walls, fresh Harry Potter books on our shelves, and everyone was wearing trucker hats? While some trends come around again (and thankfully, others don’t) this intimate new musical comedy wants to remind you of all of them on a cringe-filled trip down memory lane. Strap in ’90s babies, this one’s for you.  Landing at Bondi Pavilion for two shows only on June 14 and 15 as part of the iconic site's arts program, Dear Diary is a confessional one-woman show created and performed by up-and-coming storyteller Kay Proudlove, who turned to her teenage diary entries for inspiration and ended up turning them into an 85-minute comedic musical.  From juicy topics including celebrity crushes and bad first kisses, to the serious stuff of body image and the binge-drinking culture that teenagers often come up against, this witty tale is a musical journey into the world of growing up.  Developed in Wollongong through Merrigong Theatre’s Merrigong X program, Dear Diary debuted at Perth Fringe (where it received 4.5 stars), and is now kicking off its national tour in May with dates across New South Wales in Bondi and Penerith, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland. Tickets are $20-$45 and you can get yours here.

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