State Theatre (Melbourne) State Theatre (Melbourne) The State Theatre opened in 1984 and is part of the Arts Centre Melbourne located by the Yarra River and St Kilda Road. Like the other performance venues within the Arts Centre, the State Theatre is underground. The stage is one of the largest in the world. The State Theatre is typically used as a venue for ballet, opera and musical theatre. Companies performing opera in the State Theatre include Opera Australia (which has presented seven or eight operas each season). The first opera in the State Theatre was the new John Copley production of "Don Carlos",
Allison Engine Testing Stands by servicemen of the 44th Depot Repair Squadron of the USAAF 81st Air Depot Group; two enclosed engine stands constructed by the Allied Works Council; two open stands of unknown construction; and a concrete pavement area which is the site of former associated buildings. The first Allison Testing Stands were constructed on the eastern side of Schneider Road and the Eagle Farm Aerodrome in November–December 1942 as a consequence of arrangements made for Australia to serve as a stronghold for United States (US) operations in the Pacific during World War II (WWII). The area, however, had previous links with aviation.