Location: Collins Street, Melbourne
Opened: 15 March, 1929
The 3,250 seat Regent Theatre opened on Collins Street in 1929 as part of Francis Thring's Regent franchise. On April 29 1945, fire struck the Regent and destroyed the auditorium, which took 2 years to rebuild.
Dogged by constant rumours of demolition in the 1960's, and in 1970 the Regent franchise - including venues in South Yarra and Ballarat - were closed down. The contents of the theaters were auctioned. Lord Mayor Alan Walley and his successor Ron Walker both supported the demolition of the theatre, despite a Save The Regent campaign attempting to save it. It was eventually saved by Premier Rupert Hamer, who created heritage protection that ensured its survival.
It sat dormant for 26 years until the grand vision of entrepreneur David Marriner's vision of restoration for the theatre was complete. In 1996, the venue reopened as a 2,162 seat theatre hosting musicals and plays.
Showing posts with label Rupert Hamer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rupert Hamer. Show all posts
Saturday, 8 February 2014
Friday, 7 February 2014
The Windsor Hotel - Melbourne
Location: Spring St, Melbourne
Opened: December, 1883
It was Shipping magnate George Nipper who commissioned Architect Charles Webb to build the hotel under the original name of The Grand. When Nipper sold the the hotel to James Munro and James Balfour, they set about expanding the hotel, doubling the size and adding the grand ballroom and staircase.
During the Temperance movement in the 1880's, the hotel was converted to a Coffee Palace. Liquor was banned during this period. It was 1897 before the license was regained and the hotel was renamed the Grand Hotel. In 1898, the hotel became part of Australian history when it was the venue for the drafting of Australia's constitution.
The current name, The Windsor Hotel, was given in 1920 in honour of the British royal family.
In the 1970's the Windsor was under the threat of demolition. A group of new hotels had substantially eaten into its market share and it was becoming run-down. The State Government, lead by Rupert Hamer, purchased the building and in 1980 it as leased to the Oberoi Group who ensured its survival. In 2005, the Halim family from Indonesia purchased the hotel, with a controversial redevelopment set to start in late 2014.
Opened: December, 1883
It was Shipping magnate George Nipper who commissioned Architect Charles Webb to build the hotel under the original name of The Grand. When Nipper sold the the hotel to James Munro and James Balfour, they set about expanding the hotel, doubling the size and adding the grand ballroom and staircase.
During the Temperance movement in the 1880's, the hotel was converted to a Coffee Palace. Liquor was banned during this period. It was 1897 before the license was regained and the hotel was renamed the Grand Hotel. In 1898, the hotel became part of Australian history when it was the venue for the drafting of Australia's constitution.
The current name, The Windsor Hotel, was given in 1920 in honour of the British royal family.
In the 1970's the Windsor was under the threat of demolition. A group of new hotels had substantially eaten into its market share and it was becoming run-down. The State Government, lead by Rupert Hamer, purchased the building and in 1980 it as leased to the Oberoi Group who ensured its survival. In 2005, the Halim family from Indonesia purchased the hotel, with a controversial redevelopment set to start in late 2014.
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