What began as an ambitious idea — a civic space that could reflect the growing cultural pride of Sydney’s south — soon became a passionate community movement. On June 12, 1976, that idea opened its doors. Dubbed “The Opera House of the Southern Suburbs,” the Sutherland Civic Centre quickly became a symbol of artistic possibility, a stage large enough for orchestras, theatre, ballet, and welcoming enough to belong to every local creative spirit. As the region’s appetite for culture grew, so too did the Centre’s role – rebranding in 1983 as the Sutherland Entertainment Centre. But creativity doesn’t stand still. By its 40th year, it was clear the building needed a bold reimagining – not just to improve the space, but to honour what it had always meant to the community. A place of belonging. A place of possibility. In 2023, it was reborn – not as something entirely new, but as a next act. Now known as The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre Sutherland, the building reopened this time as a state-of-the-art theatre, built upon its rich physical and historical foundations. It was still local, still welcoming, still ours – but ready for a new generation of stories.

As The Pavilion celebrates 50 years of creativity in the Shire, we honour not just the building’s history, but the people who made it. The kids who took their first steps on our stage. The artists who played their first gig. The stars discovered under the stage lights. The couples who danced the night away in the open hall. The theatre makers, the performers, the artists, writers, architects, and audiences.

If that was you, we are inviting you to share your stories and memories with us for a special exhibit. Submit your stories, imagery, videos and memorabilia via the form below.