His Majesty's conservation and management plan

22/9/95

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis today unveiled a plan which would see the original facade returned to Perth's last remaining grand theatre, His Majesty's.

Mr Lewis said the conservation and management plan, funded by the State Government, had recommended the theatre's two-tier balconies be reinstated to enhance the building's heritage values.

"The restoration of the balconies is important as His Majesty's is one of the few theatres in the world built in the Edwardian style with balconies attached to the exterior," he said.

His Majesty's Theatre was built in 1904 by Perth businessman Thomas Molloy and officially opened on Christmas Eve of that year.

The building was permanently listed on the State Register of Heritage Places in November last year which coincided with the launch by the Perth Theatre Trust of His Majesty's Theatre Foundation.

The trust owns and manages the building on behalf of the State Government.

The balconies were removed between 1948 and 1951 because the supporting pillars were regarded as a traffic hazard.

The Minister said a special $10,000 grant was made available for the preparation of the conservation and management plan because of the theatre's social, cultural and physical importance to the development of the City of Perth.

"It is an extremely rare building and is the last remaining grand Edwardian theatre in Australia," Mr Lewis said.

"The building should be preserved to allow future generations of Western Australians the same enjoyment experienced by so many theatregoers over the last 90 years.

"The conservation plan is a useful tool and is designed to act as a guide for owners of heritage properties who want to realise a building's full potential without damaging its integrity or authenticity."

Mr Lewis said the plan had also identified the need to improve public access to the ground floor of the theatre.

"There will be major work on the Stalls Bar which will become a cafe and see the area used as it was originally - serving the passing street trade," he said.

"As they did back in the 1900s people will be able to use this part of the theatre throughout the day and take advantage of the building's great ambience."

The Heritage Council of Western Australia has already begun consultation in relation to the project.

The Minister said the Perth Theatre Trust and His Majesty's Theatre Foundation needed to be congratulated for their commitment to preserving and enhancing the heritage values of the building.

"His Majesty's will continue to be an impressive landmark in the streetscape of the area and an important element in the King Street precinct," Mr Lewis said.

"Interestingly His Majesty's was saved from demolition in the late 1970s by the Coalition Government of Sir Charles Court, which purchased the building and supervised a restoration program."

Media contact:  Bronwyn Hillman 222 9595 or 221 1377