A New Space for Stories: The BHP Theatrette & Swamp Film Festival

There’s a new space for storytelling at the Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia and we’re excited to share it with you.

Our newly refurbished BHP Theatrette is now open and ready to welcome members, visitors and the wider community. Originally built in 1986, the Theatrette has long been part of the Centre’s journey. With the generous support of one of our longest-standing corporate partners, BHP, it has now been given a modern visual and technical upgrade.

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A Fresh Experience for Visitors

The upgraded Theatrette features:

• A 120-inch projection screen
• Ceiling-mounted projector
• Built-in audio system
• Roof Mounted acoustic panels
• New carpets
• and an amazing new mural

Importantly for visitors, when the room is not booked for private events, we’ll now be screening a rotating program of short environmental films (around 5 minutes each) throughout the day.

These bite-sized films will give visitors the opportunity to sit, reflect and learn more about wetlands, wildlife and environmental issues, adding another engaging experience to your visit.

As managers of a Ramsar-listed wetland in the heart of the Hunter, storytelling plays an important role in helping people connect with the landscape around them. The Theatrette provides a welcoming space to pause and deepen that connection.

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Launching Our Environmental Short Film Festival

The refurbishment has also sparked something new — our inaugural Short Film Festival, Swamp Film Fest.

We are inviting filmmakers from across the Hunter Region and beyond to submit environmentally themed short films and documentaries, with a focus on the Hunter Estuary and surrounding landscapes.

The festival will be held over the World Environment Day weekend from 5–8 June 2026, celebrating local creativity and environmental storytelling.

Whether you’re a student, emerging filmmaker or experienced documentarian, this is an opportunity to share stories that matter, stories about place, community and the environment we all rely on.

Further details about submissions and programming can be found here

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More Than a Room

The BHP Theatrette is more than a renovated space, it’s an investment in education, community engagement and the long-term sustainability of the Centre. It will host film nights, seminars, school groups, book launches and private events, while also providing an additional income stream to support our conservation work.

We are deeply grateful to BHP for their continued partnership and support in helping us create a space that will serve our community for years to come.

Next time you visit, come in and catch a quick film before you go out bird watching