Plans to revive the Roxy Theatre Parramatta revealed, faces Metro setbacks

Cafes, bars, colonnades and an auditorium – potentially to host the Dally M Awards – are part of a proposal to revive Parramatta’s dilapidated Roxy Theatre but the metro is holding it back. Read the latest.

The Roxy Theatre is a shadow of its former glory.

Multiple cafes, bars, restaurants and an auditorium to host events – potentially the NRL’s Dally M Awards – are part of a plan to revive the run-down Roxy Theatre at Parramatta and boost the CBD’s night life but the construction of the Metro West station is holding it back.

Owner David Kingston has lodged a fresh development application featuring “two significant structural changes” with Parramatta Council under long-awaited plans to convert the treasured Art Deco picture theatre into a venue that will rejuvenate Parramatta’s night life.

The application requests the demolition of the graffiti-tagged service area at the back of the theatre that contains the airconditioning unit so cafes and bars can replace it.

The cafes would face the metro station and be visible to commuters exiting the station.

Other new plans are for the addition of colonnades and arches to the building’s west wall, which is now blank. It would be lined with entrances and cafes facing the Civic Link.

An application has been made to demolish the service area (the shorter block) and replace it with a dining drawcard.

How the back of the Roxy could look from the rear of the building, opposite the Metro West station.

There will be six mid-range dining venues including two cafes, alfresco dining areas, bars and restaurants that open on to the Civic Link, George St and the former nightclub.

“Food is going to be a critical part of it,’’ Mr Kingston said.

He said venues such as the new Albion at the corner of Smith and George streets would add to the CBD’s night-life but the Roxy would stand out “because it’s the biggest, the grandest, it’s got the branding so it’s always going to be far superior to those ones”.

“Sadly Parramatta’s CBD is lifeless most evenings and weekends and it needs new hospitality venues to attract people to the CBD.”

Lofty colonnades could be added to the side of the building.

The decaying facade of the Roxy. One side could be converted into multiple openings and colonnades.

He said gigs such as comedy shows ad headline acts in the auditorium were in the pipeline to bring the heritage-listed theatre back to its former glory. Birds of Tokyo and Alex Lloyd were some artists who performed there before it shut 10 years ago.

“It might even have the Dally M Awards,’’ Mr Kingston said.

“The NRL players love the Roxy.

“I’m ready to go. I’m very excited by the plans.’’

Comedian Rob Shehadie welcomed the plans.

“If the Roxy makes a comeback and attracts the right acts then it’ll definitely save Parramatta’s night life and restaurant trade by attracting people from all around Sydney,’’ he said.

“I’d be keen to do shows at it.’’

But Mr Kingston said the Roxy’s restoration was lagging because construction of the metro station was causing upheaval and he was seeking answers from Metro West if plans for office and residential towers atop the station would go ahead.

“Parramatta is obviously improving but the metro in the short term has hurt Parramatta,’’ he said.

“The government and council have done a great job in revitalising Parramatta with billions of dollars invested in light rail, a new stadium, Powerhouse, Riverside theatres and the metro. “However the metro is presently a massive excavation site which is disrupting the Parramatta CBD - so it is really important for the government/metro to finish the long planned Civic Link urgently.’’

Metro West construction is delaying the Roxy’s redevelopment, its owner says.

But it is likely to be years away.

A Sydney Metro spokeswoman said the Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Department was assessing four commercial and residential towers to be built on the site.

“These designs may be amended following ongoing engagement with industry and the community,’’ she said.

Tunnelling and station excavation is expected to be completed in 2026. Station construction and tunnel fit out are expected to start from 2027.

In March, the Minns government was ordered to pay Parramatta Council more than $200m in compensation for forcibly acquiring land to build the Metro station.

Mr Kingston is also waiting to find updates on Civic Link’s block 2, which Metro West is delivering along with a public square, so changes to the Roxy’s west side can be implemented.

The link won’t open until the station is completed, which is expected to be 2032 when the rest of the $26bn line opens, but Mr Kingston wants to begin making changes sooner.

In 2019, the Land and Environment Court rejected Mr Kingston’s K Capital Group’s plan to build a 33-storey mixed use $96m tower to loom over the Roxy.

The 94-year-old theatre holds heritage listings at national, state and local levels. It was a cinema in the 1930s and went on to become a Hoyts cinema, restaurant, nightclub and entertainment venue before shutting in 2014.

Before it lost last year’s state election, the Liberals pledged to acquire the Roxy.

A NSW Government spokesman said Create NSW was delivering a business case for the Roxy Theatre.

“Create NSW is currently finalising the business case, which presents the NSW Government with options to remediate and refurbish the Roxy Theatre as a cultural venue for music and live performance,’’ he said.

“Any future funding support for the Roxy Theatre will be determined on completion of the final business case.”

Originally published as Plans to revive the Roxy Theatre Parramatta revealed, faces Metro setbacks