Interim heritage listing for Bunbury's Lyric Theatre

15/2/97

The important role of Bunbury's Lyric Theatre has played in the evolution of legitimate and cinematic theatre in the area is to be recognised with heritage listing of the theatre.

Heritage Minister Graham Kierath said the interim listing recognises the theatre was closely associated with theatrical entrepreneurs Hyam Weiss and the Nelson Bros and with prominent theatre architect W T Leighton.

The theatre was built in 1905 for Hyam 'Harry' Weiss, who had migrated from the United Kingdom in the late 1890s.

The 1905 building, designed by Bunbury architect F W Steere, was commissioned at a cost of 3,500 pounds.

Two single-storey shops were built at the same time.

The theatre was sold to Nelson Bros in 1936. However, a fire caused extensive damage and the building had to be remodelled.

New works included changing the theatre to allow for cinema usage, installing a projection box, and remodeling the street frontage of the shops.

W T Leighton, from Baxter Cox and Leighton Architects, designed the work which was his first cinema project in Western Australia. He later became well-known for work on cinema buildings.

"The Lyric Theatre is a remarkable survivor of Edwardian theatre," Mr Kierath said.

"Even though this building is currently being used as a furniture store, there has been very little structural alteration and it can fairly easily be reconstructed for its original use."

Mr Weiss was a self-taught musician who, together with his brothers, formed the 'Bunbury Band' which would play up and down the streets of Bunbury.

The theatre was named by Harry after the Lyric Theatre in London, where his mother had been a performer.

"Harry's grandson is married to the Perth actress Adele Cohen, providing a traceable line of theatrical oral history through at least four generations from Harry's mother to the present," Mr Kierath said.

"This historical information would not have been known except, perhaps, by research prompted by the building's existence.

"Passing down historical information from generation to generation is significant because it is the way we know the historic modes of speech in theatre from the time before sound recording.

"This line contributes to the scientific research value of the place."

The former Commonwealth Bank on the corner of Stephen and Victoria Streets in Bunbury has also been entered in the State Register of Heritage Places.

The 1928 building has been entered on an interim basis, acknowledging its close association with the emergence of Federation and the Commonwealth Bank.

"This building clearly exhibits the neo-classical tradition of architecture that constitutes a benchmark for assessment of this style in Western Australia," Mr Kierath said.

"The building is an essential component of a coherent precinct and contributes to the notable streetscape of Bunbury's town centre as well as promoting an understanding of the development of the city block."

The building became part of the Bunbury Telecom facilities in 1978 and was subsequently sold as part of the split that formed Australia Post and Telecom.

Its current owners lease the building out for office space, however, its authenticity has remained high in that the main two-storeyed section and the ground floor chamber and staircase have been only changed in minor ways.

"The original function of the banking offices is still there and the former banking chamber can be seen by the public as an office foyer, similar to when it was used as a banking chamber," Mr Kierath said.

Media contact: Steve Manchee 481 2133