Award-winning advocacy.

Parramatta's Spanish Mission styled Roxy Theatre, with its magnificent arcaded forecourt, was opened in February 1930. Seating 2,000 people, the Roxy's opening night brought Parramatta to a standstill.

The Roxy is unique to Australia as a theatre building and is subject to five major heritage listings: the NSW State Heritage Register; the National Trust; the National Register of Australia; the Royal Institute of Architects; and the City of Parramatta Council Local Environment Plan.

The Roxy closed as a cinema in 2002 and was converted to a hotel and restaurant. The latter failed after several years and today the building stands disused.

In 2015 the National Trust (NSW) Parramatta Regional Branch became aware of the owner's wish to develop the Roxy site, thereby destroying the heritage significance of the building. The Branch corresponded and met with Council staff and elected representatives about the threat to this heritage listed building.

In 2017, Parramatta local theatre historian John Clark approached Parramatta Branch Chair and National Trust (NSW) board member Brian Powyer about saving the theatre. From their discussions a group was formed.

The Roxy Theatre Action Group was established in 2017 with the goal of saving this historic theatre from over-development and restoring it to its original configuration with the addition of full stage facilities.

From 2017 the Group met regularly. Members were tasked with meeting with — and encouraging — the NSW State Government and Council to show vision and leadership and acquire this irreplaceable building for the people of Australia.

In 2018 the Roxy's owner put forward a Concept Development Application to allow a 33-storey commercial tower to be built behind and cantilevered over the theatre. This would have been achieved by demolishing the rear of the building from the dress circle back, with the tower supported on legs driven through the side walls of the theatre.

The DA was rejected by the Council, the Heritage Council of NSW in July 2018 and the Central Sydney Regional Planning Panel in September 2018. The owner appealed to the Land and Environment Court of NSW.

At both LEC hearings RTAG put forward three speakers to oppose the DA. The DA was rejected on heritage grounds — a judgement so strong the LEC Commissioner did not feel it necessary to deal with the many other issues raised by Council.

In late 2019, following the LEC decision, Council's CBD Planning Proposal excluded the Roxy site from the 10:1 Floor Space Ratio and limited development on the site to 18 metres, prohibiting high-rise development on the Roxy site.

The Roxy is still in private ownership. The building sits idle and continues to deteriorate.

With thousands of people expected to move into the many apartments being built in Parramatta over the coming years, the revival of the Roxy as a 1,500-seat lyric theatre is an opportunity to provide a memorable experience to theatre-goers, and to protect and celebrate this iconic heritage listed building.