This historic theatre sits in the heart of a booming city. It’s been closed for more than a decade

It’s the smell of melted butter on the popcorn, the taste of milkshakes, the screenings of classic films such as Star Wars and Alien, and the Christie theatre organ which stand out in the memories of many who visited what was once Parramatta’s most iconic cinema.

Those of a different generation think of lining up to get into a nightclub, booming music and watching footy games on the “biggest screen in Parramatta”.

Whether it was known as a cinema or a Friday drinks watering hole, the Roxy holds an important space in the memories of many who grew up in Sydney. But for Parramatta’s youngest residents, the heritage-listed theatre is known as one thing: the empty building on George Street with locks on its doors.

For more than a decade, the now 95-year-old theatre has remained shuttered and in a state of disrepair, in stark contrast to the buzz of action taking place around it. Running alongside the venue by 2032 will be the Civic Link, a $21 million pedestrianised boulevard that will connect Parramatta Square and the river.

To its right sits the future Parramatta metro station, a “once-in-a-generation” project that recently received concept approval for four high-rise buildings on top of the station itself. It’s also due to open by 2032.

But instead of the transport project being an opportunity to revitalise the Roxy Theatre, the building’s owner believes Sydney Metro is the reason the theatre has been stuck in limbo.

The Roxy in its nightclub era in 2005.Credit: Jenny Evans

In May, K Capital Group’s David Kingston, who owns the theatre, began legal action against Sydney Metro, accusing it of blocking access to the Roxy site, preventing restoration. “Without access, Metro has sterilised the Roxy and prevented its renovation and reopening,” Kingston told The Daily Telegraph.

The statement of claim, lodged in the NSW Supreme Court, comes after Kingston submitted a development application to City of Parramatta Council in 2024 to transform the theatre into a nightlife, restaurant and bar precinct. It was refused in February this year, partly because Sydney Metro denied access to the land surrounding the Roxy, which was compulsorily acquired in 2019. Kingston declined to comment on the legal proceedings.

Kingston previously told the Herald that the Roxy was ready for major renovation, but it “can’t happen until Metro step up and expedite their works”.

It’s not the first time Kingston’s plans have been knocked back. In 2019, the Land and Environment Court rejected a proposal to add a 29-storey office building cantilevered above the Roxy because it would have an “unacceptable impact on its identified heritage significance”.

Sydney Metro is defending the legal proceedings, a spokesperson saying it will continue to work with the community and stakeholders as the project proceeds, including on future station and precinct design.

“Sydney Metro has been in ongoing dialogue with the Roxy owner since the commencement of the project in 2019, including in relation to the site access,” they said.

Past and future of the Roxy

The Roxy Theatre has a long and rich history in Parramatta. Built in a Spanish mission style, the building opened in 1930 as an ornate cinema and was operated by both Hoyts and Village Cinemas. In 2002, Kingston purchased the building, ending its 72-year run as a cinema. It briefly shut its doors for renovations before reopening as The Roxy, a nightclub and entertainment venue. It permanently closed in 2014.

As development continues to surge in Parramatta, its council remains focused on putting pressure on the state government to acquire and restore the theatre, an opinion chief executive Gail Connolly hasn’t been shy about expressing.

“We have put on the record that the government needs to embrace the theatre and take a hard decision, and it would be perfect to include it as part of the integrated station development because it’s part of the precinct,” Connolly said at a business conference at Sydney Olympic Park last month.

“We’ve got skin in the game – our Civic Link is directly adjoining the metro site, and on the other side is Roxy, so there’s three partners in this deal, not just Metro.”

In 2023, the state government promised to work on a business case with options to remediate and refurbish the Roxy Theatre as a cultural venue for music and live performance. Any future funding support was to be dependent on the findings.

Government arts agency Create NSW has completed the business case, but the government remains tight-lipped about what it means for the future of the Roxy Theatre.

“That business case is currently being considered by government,” a NSW government spokesperson said.

The Sydney Morning Herald has opened its bureau in the heart of Parramatta. Email [e-mail] with news tips.