PRINCESS THEATRE

163-181 SPRING STREET MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

• Other Records For This Place
  • PRINCESS THEATRE - Victorian Heritage Register
• Additional Place Information

  • History

    PRINCESS THEATRE - History

    Heritage Inventory History of Site: Date of first documented occupation, 1854

    Heritage Inventory Description

    PRINCESS THEATRE - Heritage Inventory Description

    First theatre on this site was Astley's Amphitheatre, constructed of corrugated iron 1854 for GBW Lewis. John Black converted it to a playhouse 1857 and renamed it the Princess Theatre. In 1872 due to the destruction of the Haymarket Theatre and the Theatre Royal by fire it was the only operating theatre. Building replaced in 1886.

    Heritage Inventory Significance: THE PRINCESS THEATRE, 163 SPRING STREET, WAS ERECTED IN 1886 FOR WILLIAMSON, GARNER AND MUSTROVE BY COCKRAM AND CO. THE ARCHITECT WAS WILLIAM PITT. THE PRESENT THREE STOREY WING AND AUDITORIUM REPLACED A CORRUGATED IRON STRUCTURE ERECTED IN 1854 AND KNOWN AS ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE. THIS WAS REMODELLED IN 1857 AND RENAMED THE PRINCESS THEATRE. THE FIRST FLOOR BALCONY WAS ENCLOSED C.1900 AND THE THEATRE WAS EXTENSIVELY RENOVATED IN 1922. THIS IS MELBOURNE'S OLDEST THEATRE AND OCCUPIES A SITE ASSOCIATED WITH THEATRE SINCE 1854. THE BOOM CLASSICAL FACADE IS UNIQUE AND AMONG WILLIAM PITT'S MASTERPIECES. IT IS SUPERBLY COMPOSED AND HAS ELABORATE AND UNIQUE FEATURES. MOST OF THE INTERIOR DATES FROM 1922, HOWEVER IT EXHIBITS THE SAME EXUBERANCE OF THE FACADE AND THIS COMPATIBILITY IS IMPORTANT. THE SLIDING ROOF OPENING TO THE SKY IS A HIGHLY DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF THE AUDITORIUM. MANY NOTABLE ARTISTS HAVE PERFORMED HERE. THE PAINTWORK AND DECORATION ON THE FACADE AND INTERIOR REQUIRES CAREFUL RESTORATION. THE CANOPY AND BALCONY ENCLOSURE ARE REASONABLY SYMPATHETIC WITH THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE. PARTS OF THE INTERIOR AND PARTICULARLY THE GROUND FLOOR FACADE ARE OF LITTLE IMPORTANCE. OF STATE SIGNIFICANCE.

    Archeological Potential: Extant bldg Fabric,Site

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