Plaza Theatre (Sydney)

The former Plaza Theatre in Sydney, New South Wales is a heritage listed building designed as a 2000-seat cinema by Eric Heath for the Hoyts Group. It is rare surviving example central Sydney's inter-war building boom in theatre buildings. It is one of a handful of central Sydney's surviving theatre buildings.[1]

George Street facade of the former Plaza Cinema

Location

Detail of the George Street facade highlighting the Corinthian column loggia

The building is located at 600 George Street, Sydney on the western half of the block bounded by Wilmot Street and Central Street to the sides and Pitt Street to the rear. It is a prominent feature of the entertainment sector's streetscape.

History

Interior detailing preserved in the foyer

The Plaza Theatre was built during a golden age of cinema-going in Australia and was opened on 11 April 1930.[2] By 1950 cinema attendance had declined and this was further affected by the introduction of television in 1956. Many suburban cinemas closed down and in the city a number of theatres were demolished for redevelopment. In 1977 the Plaza was closed as a cinema and the foyer was converted to a McDonald's and the auditorium was converted to a skating rink, concert venue and restaurant. A Heritage order prevented its demolition until 1995 when the auditorium became Planet Hollywood. That area is now a licensed bar.[3]

The theatre's organ was built circa 1923 by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda, New York and was installed at the Plaza in 1937 from the Wintergarden Theatre, Brisbane. It was removed around 1968 and the console was relocated to a private residence in Harris Park, New South Wales.[4]

The building is of historic significance at a State level due to its ability to reflect the inter-war boom period of picture palace buildings in Sydney and for its contribution to the development of Sydney's George Street cinema precinct. It is aesthetically significant as a fine example of the Spanish Mission style and is particularly notable for its external Baroque detailing. It is listed on the Heritage Register of New South Wales[1] as well as the Register of the National Estate.[2]

Design and construction

The building was constructed in the years 1929 and 1930 by the building firm James Porter & Sons and to a design by Eric Heath. The brickwork facade is rendered in a rough cast stucco giving an exaggerated texture. The raised decorative detailing is in precast concrete. There are five floors including a basement and the three storey facade above the awning is symmetrical. It is dominated by a three window four Corinthian column loggia. The columns are supported on pedimented brackets and finish in an entablature incorporating spiral [urn]s. The individual windows are topped by decoration and the north-west corner is chamfered.[5]

A section of the beamed ceiling showing coloured and stencilled floral motifs

Interiors

The majority of the interior detailing has been lost since the building's demise as a cinema although fine remnants remain in the McDonald's restaurant that is now in sections of the original foyer.[6] These include sections of the beamed ceiling, typical Spanish motifs and superbly coloured and stencilled floral motifs on the ceiling.[7] Sections of the polychrome stencilled ceilings in the auditorium remain.

Bibliography

• Building June 1930

References

1. Heritage Branch Retrieved 20.6.2008
2. The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, p.2/102
3. Cinema Treasures Retrieved 20.6.2008
4. Lost organs of Sydney Retrieved 20.6.2008
5. Aussie Heritage Retrieved 20.6.2008
6. Cinema Tour, retrieved 20.6.2008
7. Cinema Tour Retrieved 20.6.2008