After a two-year hiatus and $48-million restoration, the much-loved Bondi Pavilion, located smack bang in the middle of Australia's most famous beach, has finally reopened. Because as the saying goes, “Great things take time.”
To mark this momentous occasion, the OG Pav will be throwing an all-ages community event that's kicking off three weeks of re-opening festivities from 6pm on Wednesday, September 21, welcoming locals and visitors alike through its beautiful doors once more. Think nostalgia, culture and arts all rolled into one, by the sea.
From live music and performances to pop-up art exhibitions, First Nations talks, film screenings, kids’ entertainment and food and drink, the Bondi Pavilion Reopening Night will be showcasing the world-class experiences the Pavilion has to offer, as well as provide a glimpse into the mammoth renovation of the heritage building. In good news, the event is free, but registration is essential.
During the evening you can head to the courtyard to catch a live concert and admire the works by Waverley Art Prize finalists in the Bondi Pavilion Gallery. Be sure to check out the new Bondi Story Room, an interactive digital experience that explores true stories about life and connection, and visit the High Tide Room for an Indigenous shelling workshop.
Step back in time to see screenings of historical footage of Bondi from the National Film and Sound Archive, and there’ll also be a pop-up exhibition featuring the Pavilion’s transformation in the Ocean Room. Plus, tasty food and chilled drinks will be available in the upstairs bar, courtyard and beachside.
Prefer to do it at your own pace? Many more free and ticketed events have also been scheduled for Friday to Sunday, September 23-25, and over the succeeding weeks.
Just like Icebergs, Bondi Rescue and acai bowls, Bondi Pavilion is part of the very fabric that makes up the coastal, vibrant and surf-loving suburb of Bondi. From theatre to music festivals, ballrooms to ice rinks, the Pavilion has done and seen it all over the past 90 years. And now with a careful and considered restoration, the Pav is back – revamped, revitalised and refreshed – and ready to cement itself as a thriving cultural and arts hub open to all for the years to come.
But don’t just take our word for it – come and check it out for yourself.