Atherton Performing Arts Theatre facts for kids

The Atherton Performing Arts Theatre is a special building in Atherton, Queensland, Australia. It used to be a military storage place during World War II (WWII). It was built in 1943. Today, it's a theatre where people perform plays and shows. It's also called the Atherton WWII Igloo. This building is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 9, 2015.

A Look Back: The Igloo's Journey

The building, often called an "igloo," is a special type of hut. It has a steel frame and a curved roof that goes all the way to the ground. This particular igloo was built around c. 1943. It was part of a big military storage area called the 13th Australian Advance Ordnance Depot. This depot was located in Tolga, near Atherton.

After the war, in 1947, the Atherton Tableland Maize Marketing Board bought the igloo. They moved it to its current spot in Atherton. They used it as a workshop. Later, from about 1958 to 1979, the local council used it as a depot.

In the early 1980s, the igloo got a new life. It was turned into a theatre. This building is a rare reminder of how important WWII was for the Atherton Tablelands. The area was a major training and rest spot for Australian soldiers. The igloo's original steel frame is also very rare.

Atherton and the War Effort

Atherton was a small town that grew a lot during WWII. It became a key base for the Australian Army in north Queensland. Soldiers returning from places like New Guinea came to the Tablelands to rest and train. This area was chosen because it was close to the battlefields. It was also good for jungle warfare training and mostly free of malaria.

To support the thousands of troops, a huge building project began. This project, called the "Atherton Project," created camps, hospitals, and storage sheds. The Allied Works Council (AWC) managed this work. They used Australian Army engineers and civilian workers. Up to 100,000 troops were on the Tablelands at one time.

The igloo now in Atherton was part of the 13th Australian Advanced Ordnance Depot (13 AAOD). This was the biggest Australian Army storage and repair center on the Tablelands. It supplied equipment and weapons to the soldiers. The depot had about 170 buildings, including many large igloo stores.

What is an ARMCO Igloo?

The igloo is an American Rolling Mill Company (ARMCO) hut. ARMCO was a company that made steel products. During WWII, they made different types of huts. The igloo-style huts were 100 by 40 feet (30 m × 12 m) in size. They were advertised as being strong and good for storing things.

After the war, many military buildings were sold to civilians. All the igloos at the 13 AAOD were removed after the depot closed in 1946. The land went back to being farms. The Atherton Performing Arts Theatre igloo is one of the last known ARMCO igloos from that time.

From Workshop to Theatre

The Atherton Tableland Maize Marketing Board bought this ARMCO igloo in 1947. They needed a workshop to fix farming equipment. The igloo was taken apart in Tolga and rebuilt in Atherton. It became a busy workshop for almost 11 years.

Later, the local council used the site as a depot. Then, in 1979, the Atherton Performing Arts (APA) group was formed. They got permission to use the igloo as a theatre around 1981.

The igloo was cleaned and updated. A stage was built inside in 1982. They added an office, kitchen, and dressing rooms. Over the years, more improvements were made. This included new lighting, carpet, and seating. Today, the igloo is a lively place for youth theatre, concerts, plays, and other performances. It even hosts regular Eisteddfods, which are festivals of music and performance.

What the Theatre Looks Like

The Atherton Performing Arts Theatre is on the western side of Atherton's town center. It has two main parts: the steel-framed igloo and an older workshop building next to it.

ARMCO igloo

The igloo is a long building with a rounded shape. It has metal walls and a metal roof. The building is about 38 feet 9 inches (11.81 m) wide and 98 feet 9 inches (30.10 m) long. Most people enter through the front.

Inside, you can see the steel frame that holds the building up. It has 21 D-shaped arches. These arches are made of strong steel pieces that fit together. The inside is divided into different areas for the theatre. There's a lobby, a kitchen, and an office at the front. The main part is the auditorium and stage. At the back, there are dressing rooms.

Gabled-roof workshop

Next to the igloo is an older workshop building. It has a pointed, "gabled" roof and a concrete floor. Inside, it's one big open space. At the back, there's a newer section with a hallway connecting to the igloo and a toilet area. This workshop building is not considered as historically important as the igloo itself.

Why It's a Heritage Site

The Atherton Performing Arts Theatre is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register for a few reasons:

• It shows Queensland's history: This igloo is a rare building from the 13th Australian Advanced Ordnance Depot. It helps us understand how important the Atherton Tablelands were during WWII. It was a main base for Australian soldiers fighting in the Pacific.
• It shows what these buildings were like: The igloo is one of only two known surviving ARMCO huts of its size from WWII in Queensland. It still has its original steel frame. This shows how these special prefabricated buildings were made and used.