Arts & Culture

Cummins Theatre

Cummins Theatre opened on the 10th of October 1928.

The Theatre owes its existence in Merredin to James Hurtle Cummins, who owned Kalgoorlie Brewery. Cummins was planning to open a second brewery in Merredin and felt the town also needed a theatre. Cummins was a lover of the arts and had been on the board for several Goldfields Theatres.

Mr Cummins purchased the Tivoli Theatre, which had been built in Coolgardie in 1897, and had it dismantled and sent in pieces to Merredin by train. Here, the thirty-year-old Theatre was rebuilt where it stands today on Bates Street. Cummins Theatre, was renamed in honour of its founder.

In 1991, an extension was built on the south side of the theatre, adding a kitchen, bar and function space to the theatre; named The Tivoli after the original Coolgardie theatre.

Cummins Theatre has played host to a number of Australia’s favourite artists over the years, including AC/DC, Slim Dusty, Johnny O’Keefe, Lano & Woodley, The Wiggles, David Helfgott, Sherbert, Marcia Hines, John Paul Young, Amy Shark, and many, many others.

Cummins Theatre is one of the last interwar-classical style theatres to still be operating as a live performance space today; the theatre was permanently entered on the State Register of Heritage Places in 1996.

Merredin Silo Art
FORM’s Public Silo Trail has renewed grain silos in towns across regional Western Australia with massive artworks of world class murals by local and international artists. In 2017 urban artist Kyle Hughes-Odgers transformed four of the eight concrete silo cells at CBH Merredin. Through his characteristic geometric yet playful style, Kyle depicts the importance of the agricultural industry to Merredin and the Wheatbelt region with colours taken directly from the Wheatbelt’s natural environment. A publication ‘Stories from the Silo Towns’ is available at visitor centres along the trail.

Merredin Fine Arts Studio & Gallery
Enjoy the hospitality of this group of creative and talented locals in their art space and gallery. Located in Queen Street, be sure to visit the artists on any Thursday 9am-2pm, or Saturday 9am-12pm.