It was such a special day at the Canberra Theatre, that Chief Minister Andrew Barr took time out of Budget Day to attend its official 60th birthday cake-cutting ceremony.

Flanked by young stars of the Australian Ballet, Amy Ronfeldt, and Larissa Kiyoto-Ward, Mr Barr did the honours before heading back to the Assembly carrying a large cupcake inscribed with the letters 60.

The small crowd of well-wishers, which included present-day staffers as well as old-hands such as lighting expert Alex Sciberras and front of house manager Alan Foulks, who watched as a video message from the Governor-General Sam Mostyn was screened.

Ms Mostyn declared herself “one of your greatest fans,” and revealed that she too would be turning 60 in 2025.

The theatre she said, had a special place in the heart of Canberrans like her, and she reflected on a 1978 Joan Armatrading concert as one of her finest memories, along with visits to Bangarra, Bell Shakespeare and to see Justine Clarke playing Julia Gillard.

It was left to present-day director Alexander Budd to point out how visionary the original concept of the theatre had been and how well accepted it quickly became.

Of note, he said, was that at the beginning when Canberra’s population was only 85,000, they were selling 240,000 tickets a year, making it “the only shop in town”.

As to the future, Budd could hardly conceal his excitement that they were “waiting to press go” on the new 2006-seat lyric theatre that would go up in “the Mooseheads car park” behind The Playhouse.

“Perhaps in only three years’ time,” he predicted.

Canberrans wishing to leave memories of the theatre may do so here canberratheatrecentre.com.au