Vale Diana Waldron

Published on 28 February 2025

The Town of Cambridge pays tribute to Diana Waldron, a long term resident of City Beach, who sadly passed away on the evening of 27 February 2025. As a ballet dancer, teacher, and choreographer Diana and her late husband architect Ken Waldron were the creative forces behind the development of the beautiful Quarry Amphitheatre.

With Commonwealth, State, and Local Government funding they designed and built the Quarry Amphitheatre, creating a unique performance place of magic and wonder.  In an oral history recorded at Cambridge Library in 2004 Diana described how they came across the Quarry and decided it was the perfect place for an amphitheatre:

“…One day we got the Post Newspaper, and I’ve still got the cutting, and it said, “Football Club refused use of Quarry in Floreat Park.” …. Somehow or other I said to Ken, because he worked at home too. I said, “Well if a football club could possibly have a quarry why can’t we have a quarry?” He said, “I know just the place.” We used to go there and play.” I said, “Let’s go.” So, we hopped in the car and went up to where we thought it would be, and headed inland through the bush. It was rather hard to get through. Then we stumbled on it, and we came on to the area that has now become the stage and that’s where we actually came through. There it was just sitting there waiting for us. So that was how it started.”

The Town of Cambridge will forever be grateful for the vision and tenacity of the Waldrons in creating the Quarry Amphitheatre. The Town will continue to work hard to protect this very special place.

We extend our deepest sympathies to friends and family who will no doubt be reminiscing about how special Diana Waldron was to the local arts and cultural community.

Photo supplied to the Cambridge Library by Diana Waldron