Rediscovered drop curtain a unique piece of Boonah history

The newly restored Boonah School of Arts advertising drop curtain was unveiled yesterday at the Boonah Cultural Centre where it now proudly hangs.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen says it was a special moment to unveil the curtain that was originally hung in the Boonah School of Arts in 1934.

“After many years in storage and in surprisingly good condition, the curtain’s restoration project was funded by the Scenic Rim Regional Council in late 2018 to ensure the unique item remained a part of Boonah’s history," he said

“The curtain is like a portal into Boonah’s history, which represents the cultural and commercial development of Boonah and the wider district.

"The curtain is an excellent example of the ‘romantic European style’ scenic advertising drop curtain and has high aesthetic value as an item of quality design, artistry and construction.”

Division 5 Councillor, Marshall Chalk said the curtain was found by chance during demolition works.

"The curtain was found early last year when Council was getting prepared to demolish the Boonah Sign Shed as part of the Boonah Town Centre Upgrade," said Cr Chalk.

"The two large canvas rolls were found in the old building and thankfully were recognised to be of historical importance.

"Many families from Boonah and surrounds will recognise some of the business names that are advertised on the curtain and I am sure they will have stories to tell about those businesses and their families."

Restoration Project Manager John Waldron from Blue Sky View said the advertising drop curtain is believed to be the most complete and original example of such a theatre curtain in Australia.

“More than one hundred years ago, grand drapes and painted curtains were the primary artistic feature in the cultural life of most every town and centre with a hall, theatre or school of arts.

"This makes it an important object for research for Boonah’s history and for the nation's theatre arts, theatre advertising and scenic studios.

"The original roller for the curtain was fully intact and is now also on display, and while we carefully cleaned and repaired the curtain during restoration, we didn't need to touch the paintwork," he said.

Also involved in John’s restoration project team was Ross Annels who sourced red cedar for the frame, that was once common in Boonah and now hard to come by, and carefully crafted the frame in his studio. Kate Stanaway carefully cleaned and repaired all the tears in the curtain and curtain rod.

In closing the official unveiling, Mayor Greg Christensen acknowledged the work that had gone in to the restoration and its significance for the region.

“Congratulations and big thank you to all involved in the remarkable restoration. It is a must see artwork, which will be added to the Boonah Heritage Trail, and another great reason to visit the Scenic Rim” he said.

In attendance at the unveiling were representatives from the Boonah Arts Society, The Templin  Museum and The Scenic Rim Arts Reference Group. Scott Bulchholz MP, Jon Krause MP, Councillors, members of Council's executive team and the employees who were part of the initial discovery of the curtain also attended.

Mr H. Whitman of Whitman Scenic Service was the original talented artist commissioned by the Boonah School of Arts Committee in 1934 to paint the curtain, and is now proudly part of the Scenic Rim Regional Council collection.

The curtain can be found hanging in the Boonah Cultural Centre on 3 High Street, Boonah.

Pictured: Mayor Greg Christensen and restoration project manager, John Waldron.