2 June 1973   The Festival Theatre

The Festival Theatre was opened by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, on the 2 June 1973.

The theatre seats nearly 2000 people and the proscenium is adjustable in both length and width to enable it to be used for a variety of purposes. This building was the first part of the $17 million performing arts complex to be completed. The other two theatres, the Playhouse of 600 seats on two levels, the 380 seat Space, and the outdoor Ampitheatre were completed later. The site for the centre was chosen in 1969, first plans were drawn up that year, and work commenced in 1970.

The costs of the Festival Theatre were met by public donations of $100,000, an Australian Government Grant of $200,000 with the remainder raised by the City Council (one-third) and the South Australian Government (two-thirds). The additional buildings were financed by Government guaranteed loans to the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust, a statutory body incorporated under the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust Act 1971-74.

When compared with the cost of the Sydney Opera House of more than $100 million, South Australia has done extremely well with its useful and attractive complex.

South Australian Year Book,  1975, p. 245.