The Brisbane Powerhouse will gain a new venue in the form of a Spiegeltent which is being moved from Wynnum, to the site of the former Dendy Powerhouse Outdoor Cinema.
Spiegeltents (or “mirror tents”) were originally built from wood and canvas, and decorated with mirrors and stained glass in Belgium in the late 19th century as mobile dance halls for town fairs where there were no halls.
This one has come all the way from Augathella in south-west Queensland where the unused venue was spotted in 2023 by Peter and Stephanie Oliver – parents of Tom Oliver who founded Tom Oliver Productions.
The venue was brought back to life through a partnership between the Augathella and Wynnum communities, Murweh Shire Council and Tom Oliver Productions.
Its site in Wynnum is now slated for development, so the Spiegeltent had to find a new long-term home.
Reconstruction has begun on the 300-capacity space which will open in October 2026, just in time to host the Brisbane Writers Festival and Melt Festival.
The Augathella Spiegeltent is the only Belgian-designed, Australian-made Spiegeltent in the world, half Spiegeltent, half shearing shed, and unmistakably Queensland.
Brisbane Powerhouse CEO and Artistic Director Louise Bezzina said the partnership reflected a broader ambition for the precinct’s future.
“Augathella has always had its own personality, it’s the kind of space that surprises people the first time they walk in,” Ms Bezzina said.
“That’s exactly why this partnership matters. We’re not just growing our footprint; we’re deepening what this precinct can offer. More possibilities for artists to make ambitious work, and more reasons for audiences to keep coming back.”
Tom Oliver, Founder and Artistic Director of Tom Oliver Productions, said the move represented an exciting new chapter for a venue that had already lived several extraordinary lives.
“This Spiegeltent has already had a remarkable journey, from being built for Queensland’s 150th birthday celebrations, to a shed in Augathella, to being brought back to life in Wynnum,” Oliver said.
“What makes this next chapter so exciting is that we can finally use this incredible venue for what it was built to do, host performing artists and audiences throughout the year.
“In Wynnum we could only open the doors for a few weeks each year because of the temporary infrastructure required.
“Brisbane Powerhouse gives us a genuine year-round platform, meaning more shows, more audiences and more work for local artists, performers, musicians, technicians and arts workers.”
Importantly, the Wynnum Fringe Festival, which was hosted in the Spiegeltent, will continue.
The Festival has been part of Brisbane’s bayside cultural calendar for seven years, predating the arrival of The Augathella Spiegeltent, and will remain an important part of Tom Oliver Productions’ program.
Planning is underway for the festival’s 2027 format, as Tom Oliver Productions explores a sustainable model that will allow Wynnum Fringe to continue creating arts and cultural experiences on the bayside.
The Augathella Spiegeltent will also become the new home of Queensland Fringe from July 2027, with Tom Oliver Productions and Brisbane Powerhouse co-curating productions in the space year-round, a strategic partnership in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The new chapter comes with a fresh look. The redesign, to be revealed in October, leans into contrast: a gloss black contemporary façade, illuminated signage and clean architectural lines set against Augathella’s existing rustic corrugated iron shell.
Inside, the venue will be dressed head to toe in rich crimson velvet, with new black vinyl flooring through the auditorium, and black marine carpet in the foyer.
The redesign was led by set and event designer Bruce McKinven, whose 30-year career spans Australia’s leading theatre and dance companies and major festival sites, including Brisbane Powerhouse’s Night Feast, Hobart’s Dark Mofo and Adelaide’s Writers’ Week.
