The Brandstater Amphitheatre has transformed the space between the Auditorium and College Hall (formerly the Chapel) on the Lake Macquarie campus, providing an ideal venue for outdoor music, drama and worship events, and an attractive place for students to relax.

The idea developed in discussions with Dr Bernard Brandstater, Professor and former Chair of Anesthesiology at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California. The Brandstater family provided generous funding for the project.

Dr Barry Oliver, Dr Ray Roennfeldt, Dr Bernard Brandstater and Dr Murray Brandstater at the opening of the Brandstater Amphitheatre. Photo credit: Ann Stafford.

The amphitheatre, designed by David Stafford, was officially opened during graduation weekend in December 2010. Dr Murray Brandstater, Chair of Physical Medicine at Loma Linda, was also present, along with other members of the extended Brandstater family.

The Brandstater Amphitheatre replaces a baptismal font and informal amphitheatre constructed in 1955 under the supervision of Geoffrey Richardson, the designer and builder of the original Auditorium (1954). For many years Avondale used this font for baptisms conducted over graduation weekend. Since 1986 the campus baptismal font has been in the Avondale College Church.

The Brandstater family migrated from Germany in the nineteenth century, settling in the Collinsvale district of Tasmania, where they became Seventh-day Adventists. They were among the pioneer members of the Collinsvale SDA Church, established in 1888. Doctors Bernard and Murray Brandstater are sons of Pastor Roy Brandstater, a prominent Australian pastor and evangelist. Both are graduates of Australian universities.

Brenton Stacey

Author

Brenton Stacey

Brenton is Avondale University’s Public Relations and Philanthropy Officer. He brings to the role experience as a communicator in publishing, media relations, public relations, radio and television, mostly within the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific and its entities.