THE old photos are coming in as Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre gets ready to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
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"We've had a few [photos], but we would like some more," BMEC creative producer Kylie Shead said this week.
"We are particularly interested in before 1999 because we don't have a lot of photos from the previous life of the building.
"One of our regular patrons brought in some photos of the hall in its original life and it was fabulous to see what it was like."
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The centre was refurbished two decades ago around the original stage and backstage facilities of the Bathurst War Memorial Hall (which opened in 1965).
The photos and more will be on display at BMEC from March 6 for between a week and two weeks, according to Ms Shead, and a 20-year celebration will be held in City Hall on March 5, hosted by Kate Smith and with performances by local acts.
Centre manager Stephen Champion said it was hard to highlight just a few memorable shows from his time at the facility given there had been so many, but he said some did stand out.
One was when tribute act Beatlemania played with the Macquarie Philharmonia ("it was just amazing") and another was when the Namatjira production came to Bathurst in 2012.
"The company was here for the whole week," Mr Champion said.
"Albert Namatjira's granddaughter was travelling with the company and she did a painting workshop with the community."
Soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and actress Miriam Margolyes were both extremely popular, Mr Champion said, but he also likes the fact the centre showcases local talent and local work which often goes on to play elsewhere.
"We're not just bringing things in, we're exporting as well," he said.
Mr Champion said comedian, actor and playwright Wolfe Bowart has been a regular visitor to the centre with various productions and has become a "real community favourite".
Deputy mayor Bobby Bourke said it was great to see the centre celebrating.
"A lot of hard work went in during the early days to go from the old building to this building," he said. "Former mayor Ian Macintosh pushed hard for this centre and that's why one of the theatres is named after him.
"It's good to have a facility of this calibre in town."
Ms Shead said BMEC was grateful for Reliance Bank's sponsorship for the entire 20 years of the new centre.
Those with a photo to share of BMEC or its predecessor can email a scanned copy to kylie.shead@bathurst.nsw.gov.au or bring it into BMEC and staff will scan it.
