The first entertainment centre on the site, was an open - air theatre built by a syndicate in 1911. It was taken over by Birch Carroll & Coyle in 1922. The Olympia Theatre as it was named was officially opened in 1955 by the late Mr. F H Buss who was then the mayor of Bundaberg. The manager of the Theatre was Mr. J Watson. In the early days, staff had anxious moments trying to seat patrons under cover when storms arose. After 30 years as an airdome And 18 years in its present form, the Olympia closed in November 1973 for major restoration work.

The air-conditioned Crest Cinema was opened on December 18 1973 by the then Premier Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen and run by Paul Neville until 1981 when he was Wide Bay Manager for Birch Carroll & Coyle. The Crest was then managed by a variety of managers over the next five years following the purchase by the Bundaberg City Council.

The Theatre underwent major changes and became a theatrical theatre as well as a cinema. The theatre was renamed the Moncrieff Theatre, in honor of Bundaberg's first lady of Yesteryear, singer Gladys Moncrieff.Mr Pat Crowe was the inaugral manager until his death in September 1999. The Theatre was officially opened on August 16 1987 by Alderman A L Stewart the then Mayor Of Bundaberg, with its first Movie being "Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home" screening on Wednesday December 17 1986. The first stage show being "Johnny Chester".

Gladys Moncrieff (1892-1976)

Gladys Moncrieff was born in Queensland, Australia. She was a talanted child, touring the state and giving concerts, she was billed as 'Little Gladys - the Australian Wonder Child'. In 1921 she had a big success playing Theresa in a musical called Maid of the Mountain at the Theatre Royal in Melbourne. She sang the part around 3000 times. She toured England and New Zealand and was extremely well received . The Australian public were proud of her achievements and Moncrieff became known as 'Australia's Queen of Song' and then 'Our Glad'.

Moncrieff made records and films and appeared on television shows. Her life has been remembered on stamps