CLIENT
Schuler Shook
LOCATION
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
YEAR
2015
PROJECT TYPE
New Theatre Development
Scope
Loudspeaker system design and audio control system design
Services Provided
- →Loudspeaker system design
- →Audio control system design
- →Networked audio infrastructure design
- →Systems specification and coordination
- →Collaboration with acoustic and integration teams
The Brief
Ulumbarra Theatre forms the centrepiece of a major adaptive reuse project, transforming the historic Bendigo Jail into a new 1,000-seat theatre with associated rehearsal spaces and classrooms. Completed in 2015, the project represents a significant investment in education and the performing arts for regional Victoria.
Auditoria were engaged to design the theatre’s loudspeaker and audio control systems, working alongside Schuler Shook and Acoustic Studio. The brief was to deliver a reliable, flexible sound system capable of supporting touring productions, community performances and educational use, all within a venue shaped by an unusual architectural history.
The Challenge
Designing a contemporary performance system within a heritage structure always requires careful balance. The theatre sits within the walls of the former jail, and while the performance space is purpose-built, the wider building carries strong architectural character and spatial constraints.
The system needed to provide consistent coverage across the full seating area, including under-balcony zones, while remaining adaptable to different stage configurations. The venue’s stage extension, which doubles as an orchestra pit lift, required the front fill strategy to change depending on its position.
In addition, the project called for a pragmatic approach to equipment specification, combining selected reuse of existing stock with new components to achieve the required functionality in keeping with the adaptive reuse brief.
Our Approach
Auditoria developed a clean, stereo-based loudspeaker design using d&b V-Series elements, prioritising coverage consistency.
Six-element V-Series arrays were specified either side of the stage, supported by a single Yi10P downfill per side to ensure continuity in the nearfield. Front fill is delivered via 4S loudspeakers, with additional 8S units covering the under-balcony areas. A centre array of six V-Subs provides low-frequency support, ensuring the system retains headroom for touring productions and amplified events.
To accommodate the variable stage extension and orchestra pit configuration, two separate front fill systems were installed, one integrated into the stage front and another within the stage lift. These systems are switched depending on stage position, allowing the coverage to remain coherent as the room layout changes.
The audio control system was designed around a Yamaha CL5 console, chosen for its flexibility and familiarity within the touring market. Multiple I/O frames are connected via a dual-redundant Dante network, providing resilience and straightforward expandability. A BSS BLU326 handles essential DSP and routing duties, delivering AES/EBU outputs directly to the d&b amplification platform.
This combination of reused and new equipment ensured the theatre received a capable and future-ready system while remaining mindful of budget and long-term operational needs.
Technical Highlights:
Audio Design
d&b V-Series, six elements per side (main arrays)
Yi10P downfill (one per side)
4S front fills
8S under-balcony delays
Six V-Subs in a central array
Dual front fill systems to suit stage extension and orchestra pit configurations
Yamaha CL5 console
Multiple I/O frames on dual-redundant Dante network
BSS BLU326 for DSP and signal routing
AES/EBU outputs to d&b amplifiers
The Results
Ulumbarra Theatre now operates as a flexible, well-supported performance venue capable of hosting touring productions, orchestral performances, community events and educational activity.
The system delivers consistent coverage throughout the auditorium and adapts easily to changes in stage configuration. Importantly, it provides the technical foundation required for a busy regional venue, without introducing unnecessary operational complexity.
By combining considered system design with practical equipment choices, the project supports the theatre’s wider role as a cultural hub for Bendigo and the surrounding region.
Acknowledgements
Our Client
Schuler Shook and Peter Griffiths from Acoustic Studio
Our Team
Scott Willsallen – Audio System Design
Luis Miranda – Audio System Design
The Integrators
Clair Global
Image Credit
Lightmoves – Cabling infrastructure supply and installation
PowerAV – Active equipment supply and installation
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