Workers finish demolition of historic City Hall theatre

A TRANSFORMATION in the heart of the CBD is a step closer with Toowoomba Regional Council lodging its latest plans for the Toowoomba Civic Precinct.

An artist's impression of what the refurbished Toowoomba City Hall Theatre will look like. Photo Contributed. Picture: Contributed

A TRANSFORMATION in the heart of the CBD is a step closer with Toowoomba Regional Council lodging its latest plans for the Toowoomba Civic Precinct.

Council is seeking approval to begin refurbishing and constructing the heritage-listed Toowoomba City Hall Theatre.

A restored theatre will be a key part of the precinct which includes the Toowoomba City Library and public space between Herries, Ruthven, Little and Victoria Sts.

Workers have completed the stripping back and demolition of the theatre interior, which environment and community services chair Cr Geoff McDonald said had revealed "hidden gems".

The last renovation was done during the 1930s.

This historic photo shows the City Hall Theatre during its renovations in 1972.

Cr McDonald said council had engaged conservation architects to undertake the works and placed a high value on the retention of building's historic aspects.

Toowoomba City Hall Theatre and Annexe Project manager Ashlee Adams said work was ongoing on the design of the theatre's refurbishment.

The 1970s-era interior of the theatre was removed and the original and 1930s-era aspects remained.

"We'll be going out to tender shortly," Ms Adams said.

Cr McDonald said a city the size of Toowoomba needed the Civic Square.

Ashlee Adams, who is managing the Toowoomba City Hall Theatre and Annexe Project and Cr Geoff McDonald outside the project site. Photo Andrew Backhouse / The Chronicle. Picture: Andrew Backhouse

"It's a gap in our market that we don't have a civic space and this project does that for us," he said.

"It gives us a space where we can celebrate all sorts of things like Queensland Day, civic receptions and welcome visitors.

"It's a community space and will be an event space as well, that's something we have been lacking for some time."

The new precinct will be a mix of the old and the new.

Cr Geoff McDonald said the theatre would likely open in mid-2017.

Originally published as Workers finish demolition of historic City Hall theatre