The first incarnation of the site in Ridge St, Nambucca Heads, was in 1896 with the building of the first School of Arts. There’s been much water - and a devastating fire - under the bridge in the years since, and now the story has been brought together in words and pictures by volunteers from the Nambucca Valley Arts Council and the Headland Museum.

All that came to a head on Thursday with the opening of an exhibition of photographs which had been scanned, repaired and in some instances ‘colourised’ at the Stringer Gallery. The exhibition will remain on public display throughout August and copies of a potted history of the Entertainment Centre can also be bought from the gallery for $8 while stocks last.

The photographic history project was driven by Marlene Griffin and Pat Richardson from the Arts Council and George Micolich from the Headland Museum.

All were on hand for the opening, as were a number of interested members of the public who heard how the site had hosted all manner of activities over the years.

The original building housed the first public book lending library in the Nambucca Valley and was also the venue for a celebratory ball where residents waltzed and did the Pride of Erin. Marlene said a newspaper report at the time noted that party-goers “danced until dawn”.

The grand old girl came to a spectacular end in 1937 when the structure caught fire - though even the latest history project was unable to unearth the cause of the blaze.

Three years later, the second School of Arts was opened on the site, with the building being in the art deco style.

Marlene said with the arrival of motion pictures in the 1940s a projection room was established, while the building also served as an “overspill” for the nearby Red School.

But there has been virtually no limit to the activities which have taken place within its walls.

A resident from Riverside Gardens recently recalled that she used to operate a hairdressing salon from the centre, which also housed a bank and regularly hosted housie nights and a carols by candlelight celebration.

In 1988 the building was extended and 12 years later - “after a lot of sausage sizzles”, came the installment of a grand piano.

Roll forward to the now and the Entertainment Centre remains an integral public building on the local landscape, and today it is managed by a community based committee of council.

“It’s very important to ensure that the future of this building is secure for generations to come,” Marlene said.