a day ago
Restored spiegeltent back in action for Wynnum Fringe festival
Once abandoned in an outback Queensland town, the Augathella Spiegeltent is set to hold more than 110 live performances for the sixth annual Wynnum Fringe festival.
The restored circus tent is breathing new life into the festival scene on Brisbane's Bayside as music and hospitality venues continue to close.
The venue is hosting the Wynnum Fringe for the second time and thousands of spectators are expected to attend the festival's three-week run.
Event founder Tom Oliver began the renovation project in 2023 to give performers the increasingly rare opportunity to share their craft.
"To be able to give hundreds of artists the chance to perform in front of audience members, the chance to get paid, and thousands of audience members to come into a space and experience live art — there's not many words to describe it," he said.
Until 2013 the tent was a roaming venue for parties and events in the state before it was left to languish in Augathella, 750 kilometres west of Brisbane.
Mr Oliver is hoping to take it back on the road to give other homegrown artists the opportunity to perform under its roof.
"We're looking for places interstate to take it next year, but it's always going to be the home of Wynnum Fringe," he said.
Relocating and restoring the tent led to an unexpected relationship between Augathella and Wynnum.
In May Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Murwey Shire Mayor Shaun Radnedge announced the two were sister suburbs.
This year's Wynnum Fringe will celebrate the partnership with the theme of mateship.
"This has been a really remarkable journey, where a tiny town in west Queensland and a suburban town in Brisbane … have worked together to relocate a 400-seat live performance venue and bring it back to life," Mr Oliver said.
A cherished Queensland tradition is being revived to celebrate this new connection between the bush and the bay.
The Wynnum Fringe is throwing its first bachelor and spinster ball, which will be hosted by ABC Radio Brisbane.
Festivities will start at 4pm on Saturday, July 5, and will be headlined by country music artist Brooke Schubert.
The spiegeltent is open for business but the restoration is only half complete.
Mr Oliver has been running a crowdfunding campaign to bring the travelling venue back to life.
In the last few months he and his team have replaced the floors, roof, and purchased a new stage just in time for this year's performances.
