inHerit Logo

His Majesty's Theatre

Author

City of Perth

Place Number

02006
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

825-839 Hay St Perth

Location Details

Cnr King St Also part of King Street Precinct 2031

Other Name(s)

Her Majesty's Hotel & Theatre

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1902 to 1906

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents More information
Heritage Area Adopted 12 May 2009
Heritage List Adopted 20 Dec 1985
State Register Registered 16 Dec 1994 Register Entry
Assessment Documentation
Heritage Council

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management More information
Category Description
Local Heritage Survey Completed\Draft Category 1

Category 1

Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.

Local Heritage Survey Adopted 28 Mar 2023 Category 1

Category 1

Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.

Municipal Inventory Completed\Draft 13 Mar 2001

Municipal Inventory Adopted 13 Mar 2001 Category 1

Category 1

Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.

Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 YES 31 Dec 1999

Heritage Council
Register of the National Estate Permanent 21 Mar 1978

Heritage Council
Survey of 20th Ctry Architecture Completed 01 Mar 1988

Heritage Council
Classified by the National Trust Classified 11 Jun 1973

Heritage Council

Statement of Significance

The place is a fine example of Federation Free Classical style with an eclectic use of diverse decorative classical element, resulting in a rich visual and external quality unrivalled in Australia.
The place demonstrated Edwardian theatre architecture in its auditorium and stage design despite loss of some of the original stage features.
The place contributes an important element to the King Street Heritage Area.
The place is identified as part of the architecture produce in Western Australia by the wealth of the goldrush. The place has significance for the many international theatrical productions hosted in the theatre over the past ninety years. The place has close association with the development of theatre and dance in Western Australia.

Physical Description

His Majesty's Theatre is a four storey theatre and hotel building of load- bearing brick with stucco ornamentation in the Federation Free Classical style.

History

His Majesty's Theatre, built for Tom Malloy in 1904, opened as, and has always remained, a live theatre, except on certain occasions where an epic film was shown. The theatre opened with a production of "The Forty Thieves" on 24 December 1904. It was designed by William Wolf. It can seat 2,584 people in the three tiers of seating.
The domed roof was designed to be opened for ventilation. Unfortunately, the two tiers of balconies were removed in 1947-48, as the supporting pillars were considered a traffic hazard.
By the 1970's the Hotel had become rundown and seedy and the new Concert Hall was the favoured performing venue. There were plans to demolish it, however a public campaign persuaded the State Government to buy and renovate the theatre in order to provide adequate venue for local performing arts companies. The hotel space was given over to administrative and public spaces. In the early 1980s the building was restored.
In 2021 a project by the State Government will reinstate the verandahs.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity.
Medium level of authenticity as some parts of the building were altered irrevocably during the restoration. However overall, there is a reasonable degree of authenticity.

Condition

Fair

Associations

Name Type Year From Year To
Tom Malloy Architect - -
Frederick Liebe Architect - -
William Wolf Architect - -

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
720.9941 COW Perth and Suburbs: Building Classified and recorded by the National Trust, (1979) pp 19. Cownie, Marie and Stewart; 1979
1.11/825 Conservation Plan for His Majesty's Theatre: by Considine and Griffiths Architects
994.1 STA People of Perth, (1979) pp 224, 235 by Stannage, C.T 1979
Q 711.409 SED A City and Its Setting, (1986) pp 54, 155, 254, 266, 268 by Seddon, George 1986
720.9941 WES Western Towns and Buildings, (1979) pp 122, 123, 211, 294 by Pitt Morrison, M and White, J (Eds) 1979
Draft Municipal Heritage Inventory City of Perth 2001
Register of Heritage Places-Assessment Documentation, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth 1994
Q 725.822 WILL History of His Majesty's Theatre, (1982) by Willshire, Carolyn 1982
Q 720.994 SMI Treasures of Australia, (1983) pp 131 by Smith, R and Flower, C 1983

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
11683 His Majesty's Theatre - conservation management strategy (Restricted release) Heritage Study {Other} 2018
5551 Five graves in Dalwallinu : a life of Wilhelm Gustave Liebe. Book 1991
7122 A dream of passion : the centennial history of His Majesty's Theatre. Book 2004
3355 His Majesty's Theatre : conservation plan. Heritage Study {Other} 1995

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL Theatre or Cinema
Present Use SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL Theatre or Cinema

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Free Classical

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall BRICK Rendered Brick

Historic Themes

General Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Sport, recreation & entertainment
OCCUPATIONS Commercial & service industries

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

28 Jun 2024

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.