Did you know there once was a big amphitheatre on Balmoral? And it may have been built as a viewing platform to watch Jesus walk on water!

Featured in the May 1925 edition of Master Builder’s ‘BUILDING’ publication, the Amphitheatre was an open-air temple that stood three stories high with the stage towering a great 70 feet above the beach.  The Star was quite a feat of construction, seating 2000 people and with standing room for another 1000. It was built by Mary Rocke, a retired doctor, who bought three adjacent blocks of land. 

There was no shortage of audiences interested in spiritualism in the 1920’s in Australia and particularly in Sydney. One urban legend around the Amphitheatre states that it was built for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Specifically it was to be used as a viewing platform to watch Him walk across the water between Sydney Heads. Some claim that many tickets were sold to gullible people who wanted a prime position – for the grand price of around £100.

What became of the Star Amphitheatre?
The Amphitheatre was sold to the Catholic Church in 1936. It fell into such a state of disrepair it was later demolished in 1951 before suburbanisation took over. The Amphitheatre was replaced by Stancliff Flats, a large block of 30 residences made of red brick.

^{Additional information obtained from Mosman Library}