Calls for government to acquire, restore Roxy Theatre Parramatta

It was snubbed for funding, with cash instead going to an inner city venue, but there’s fresh calls for the compulsory acquisition of Parramatta’s historic Roxy Theatre amid fears it will “go up in flames”.

The iconic but abandoned Roxy Theatre at Parramatta has been snubbed for funding, with cash instead going to an inner city venue, but the fight to restore it to its former art deco glory carries on.

The June budget saw funds allocated towards a business case for the government to potentially restore and acquire the Metro Minerva Theatre in Potts Point.

Last year, the inner east community staged a protest to save that theatre from being converted into a boutique hotel so it could be restored into a 1000-seat performance venue.

The government funding for the art deco venue is a promising sign that it could return to a theatre but the 92-year-old Roxy’s future remains shrouded in doubt.

At a Parramatta Council meeting this week, Lord Mayor Donna Davis moved to keep the issue alive and write to the arts and heritage ministers requesting the government fund a business case to potentially restore and acquire the once-grand George St landmark.

“I’m keen to see any heritage theatres reinvigorated and restored for use,’’ Cr Davis said.

“However, the Roxy is such an icon in Parramatta and we’ve got the population growth here and the demand for more arts and cultural venues, so it’s a no-brainer that the government should be looking at the Minerva and the Roxy — not one or the other.

“Parramatta is really the centre of performance in western Sydney and we want to see the expenditure.’’

Theatregoers flock to Roxy Theatre at Parramatta for its opening night in 1929. Picture: Parramatta & Cumberland District Heritage, History and Memories

It is estimated it would cost $30 million to restore the theatre into a 1600-seat venue.

Last year, shocking footage showed how the once opulent, state-heritage listed theatre had become a target for squatters and vandals, with furniture, papers, pillows and coffee cups littering the Spanish Mission-style building, which was a theatre and movie cinema before converting to a nightclub in the mid 2000s.

“What’s really concerning is we don’t want this to go up in flames while we’re all sitting around waiting for a solution,’’ Cr Davis said.

“That is a real fear and we’ve already seen evidence that there’s been people who have broken into the building. It’s been left to decay and we want to make sure that that doesn’t continue.

“We can’t afford the risk of losing a state heritage theatre of this calibre to potential arson and further neglect.’’

The council wants the government to acquire the Roxy. Picture: Tim Hunter

Owner David Kingston bought the Roxy in 2002 and has plans to transform it into a 24-hour pub, nightclub with pokies after the original proposal for it to be redeveloped into a 33-storey “leisure and cultural’’ facility was rejected at the Land and Environment Court in June 2019.

Mr Kingston said he had not met with the government since last year and was proceeding with plans, which have been delayed because construction had started on the Metro train stations adjacent to the theatre.

“As the long term owner for 20 years, I am committed to a major upgrade and reopening of the Roxy as a landmark hotel with restaurants, bars and auditorium,’’ he said.

“A major renovation to the Roxy will make it one of the top five hotels in Sydney.

“And the development application and hotel licence are already in place.’’

Cr Davis said its revival would complement the Riverside Theatres’ redevelopment and help re-energise Parramatta’s CBD after Covid.

Vandals have trashed the Roxy, pictured in February last year. Picture: Adventures of Marley/YouTube

Create NSW has also labelled the Roxy as critical for plans to increase performance and entertainment spaces in greater Sydney.

Arts Minister Ben Franklin said the government was investing $5 million towards planning for the theatre and screen industries but did not say why the Roxy was overlooked in the budget.

“The NSW Government recognises there is strong community and cultural sector support for the restoration of the Roxy Theatre,’’ he said.

“Increasing the number of theatres in Sydney as well as space for the arts in western Sydney generally is a key priority and the NSW Government will continue to work with the community, the cultural sector, City of Parramatta Council and the owner on any future use or development of the Roxy Theatre site.’’

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