First look inside Geelong’s old Regent Theatre, Bright & Hitchcock developments

The developer behind two historic Little Malop St building, one of which used to be a theatre, has revealed when the projects are expected to be complete. TAKE A LOOK INSIDE.

Cam Hamilton on the top floor of the Regent on Little Malop St. Picture: Alison Wynd

A developer is hoping to turn the “worst part of town” into the “centre of town”, with the revitalisation of two historic buildings in the Geelong CBD.

The Hamilton Group is transforming Geelong’s old Regent Theatre in Little Malop St, which was built in 1923, into The Regent – a four story commercial complex with retail, office and hospitality spaces.

Managing director Cam Hamilton said he expected the project to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.

Cameron and Andrew Hamilton from Geelong's Hamilton Group have bought the Dimmeys building in Market Square Mall, Little Malop Street. Picture: Alan Barber

“I’m always a bit optimistic with these timelines and sometimes with those old buildings, we run into a few hurdles,” he said.

“We’ve done a fair bit of research into the space and that led to a delay in getting (the project) started, but now that we have started we are hoping for it to be finished in nine months.”

The theatre closed in 1965 and operated as McEwans hardware store until the 1980s, before it became home to The Reject Shop and Dimmeys.

Cam Hamilton on the top floor of Bright & Hitchcock building which will become a hospitality space. Picture: Alison Wynd

A few doors down, the Hamilton Group is also revitalising the Bright & Hitchcocks building on the corner of Little Malop and Moorabool streets, with Mr Hamilton keen for the development to become a hub for retail and hospitality.

“We’ve got a fair bit of interest as we speak … we’ve got very strong interest on a larger, hospitality operator with a rooftop bar (on the top level),” he said.

“We will unveil the original bandstand and we hope to get live music out of there in the future.”

Ground level of the Bright & Hitchcock building. Picture: Alison Wynd

Work on the Bright & Hitchcock building has already commenced and most of interior has been demolished.

Mr Hamilton said he expected that project to be finished by August 2024.

Inside the Regent, workers have been busy exposing the original features of the building including an arched window and ornate ceiling.

“The Regent was all about seeing what was there,” Mr Hamilton said.

“We know the arched window is there (but) we are a bit unsure about how much of the rendered detail is still there.”

Workers have been exposing ornate features in the old Regent Theatre building. Picture: Hamilton Group

“We are planning a nice, big glass atrium at the front with a big glass lift that goes all the way up so we don’t block any of the original window.

“The plan is on every floor you will be able to see that original arched window.”

Mr Hamilton said workers also uncovered the original terrazzo floor on the ground level.

“We’ll polish them up and make sure they’re as good as they were in the past,” he said.

Concept images of inside the Regent. Picture: Hamilton Group

Mr Hamilton hopes the developments will help to change the nature of the mall and inject some vibrancy into the area.

“I think it’s a great asset and has been under-utilised over the last 20 to 30 years,” he said.

“I really hope we can get a different caliber of tenant throughout … to really create this as the centre of town rather than the centre of the worst part of town.”

Originally published as First look inside Geelong’s old Regent Theatre, Bright & Hitchcock developments