ROXY THEATRE ACTION GROUP
2020 National Trust Heritage Awards Nomination
Project Short Description
The Roxy Theatre Action Group (Group) was established to advocate for the iconic heritage listed Roxy Theatre in Parramatta when the owner approached Council to allow a 33-storey commercial tower to be built behind, and cantilevered over, the theatre.
The Group’s advocacy to save this Spanish Mission style theatre from high-rise development culminated in the rejection of the owner’s concept development application in the Land and Environment Court in June 2019.
Detailed Description
Roxy Theatre Action Group
Background
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 as thousands of people thronged to see the new theatre. 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. To be listed on five such registers already makes it a unique, important, and irreplaceable heritage building, not only to Parramatta and Sydney but to the nation itself.
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 Roxy Theatre owners commenced discussions with the City of Parramatta Council (Council) to develop this site.
Advocating for the Roxy Theatre
In 2015 the National Trust (NSW) Parramatta Regional Branch became aware of the owner’s wish to develop the Roxy site, whereby 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.
At that time, the Branch established a Facebook page to generate support and communicate information about the significance of the building and the owner’s plans for the Roxy. Additionally, the threat to the Roxy was communicated to Parramatta Branch members at their quarterly meeting and through their quarterly newsletter.
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 to work towards saving the theatre and its potential future use.
Roxy Theatre Action Group
The Roxy Theatre Action Group was established in 2017 with the goal to save this historic theatre from over development and to have the theatre fully restored to its original configuration, with the addition of full stage facilities.
The Group consisted of three Parramatta Regional Branch committee members: Brian Powyer, Cheryl Bates and Les Tod and interested theatre advocates including John Clark and Robert Fox.
From 2017 the Group met regularly and 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 and restore it to world-class performing arts standards. Representations have been made to seek a new owner either by land swap or purchase, and to the current owner to potentially relinquish the property.
Additionally, the Group established a Roxy Theatre Action Group website to represent the Group’s objectives and keep interested people up to date and created a petition to “Revive the Parramatta Roxy Theatre”.
In 2018 the Roxy’s owner put forward a “Concept Development Application” (DA) to Council to allow a 33-storey commercial tower to be built behind and cantilevered over the theatre. This would be achieved by demolishing the rear of the building from the dress circle back. This tower would be supported on legs driven through the side walls of the theatre, and the theatre foyer would become an entrance to the tower and its function rooms.
This DA was subsequently rejected by the Council; the Heritage Council of NSW in July 2018 and the Central Sydney Regional Planning Panel in September 2018.
As a result of these rejections the owner appealed to the Land and Environment Court of NSW (LEC).
In March 2019, an LEC Conciliation Conference was held on-site to discuss the DA but this conference was terminated with the owner choosing to go to a three-day court hearing in June 2019.
At both LEC hearings the Roxy Theatre Action Group put forward three speakers to oppose the DA. Brian Powyer, National Trust (NSW) Chair spoke on behalf of the Trust; Les Tod (OAM) spoke on behalf of the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society, and Theatre Heritage Australia; and Robert Fox spoke on behalf of the Roxy Theatre Action Group.
Les Tod, Cheryl Bates and Robert Fox attended each day of the three-day hearing where expert witnesses presented arguments for and against the DA.
As a result of the Group’s representations and the subsequent LEC hearings the DA was rejected on heritage grounds. This judgement provided a strong statement about preservation of items that are heritage listed; so much so that the LEC Commissioner did not feel it necessary to deal with the many other issues raised by Council.
In late 2019, and following the LEC decision, the Council’s CBD Planning Proposal has excluded the Roxy Theatre site from the 10:1 Floor Space Ratio and limited development on the site to 18 metres, thus prohibiting high-rise development on the Roxy site.
The Group continues to make representations to local, State government and investors to restore the Roxy Theatre to its former glory and ensure that the people of western Sydney have an opportunity to visit this unique theatre.
Sadly, the Roxy is still in private ownership with the owner stating after the LEC rejection in 2019 that he will re-establish a hotel in the building. This has not happened to date, and the building sits idle and deteriorates.
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. This revival is in keeping with the Department of Planning and Environment’s Plan for Growing Sydney (2014) to ensure that “important heritage areas will be protected and celebrated, and arts and culture will help build vibrant communities”.
This is a once only opportunity to protect and celebrate this iconic heritage listed building and revive it as a major live performance venue capable of housing world class blockbuster live performances.
Cheryl Bates
President, National Trust of Australia (NSW) – Parramatta Regional Branch
2020 National Trust Heritage Awards Nomination
Project Short Description
The Roxy Theatre Action Group (Group) was established to advocate for the iconic heritage listed Roxy Theatre in Parramatta when the owner approached Council to allow a 33-storey commercial tower to be built behind, and cantilevered over, the theatre.
The Group’s advocacy to save this Spanish Mission style theatre from high-rise development culminated in the rejection of the owner’s concept development application in the Land and Environment Court in June 2019.
Detailed Description
Roxy Theatre Action Group
Background
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 as thousands of people thronged to see the new theatre. 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. To be listed on five such registers already makes it a unique, important, and irreplaceable heritage building, not only to Parramatta and Sydney but to the nation itself.
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 Roxy Theatre owners commenced discussions with the City of Parramatta Council (Council) to develop this site.
Advocating for the Roxy Theatre
In 2015 the National Trust (NSW) Parramatta Regional Branch became aware of the owner’s wish to develop the Roxy site, whereby 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.
At that time, the Branch established a Facebook page to generate support and communicate information about the significance of the building and the owner’s plans for the Roxy. Additionally, the threat to the Roxy was communicated to Parramatta Branch members at their quarterly meeting and through their quarterly newsletter.
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 to work towards saving the theatre and its potential future use.
Roxy Theatre Action Group
The Roxy Theatre Action Group was established in 2017 with the goal to save this historic theatre from over development and to have the theatre fully restored to its original configuration, with the addition of full stage facilities.
The Group consisted of three Parramatta Regional Branch committee members: Brian Powyer, Cheryl Bates and Les Tod and interested theatre advocates including John Clark and Robert Fox.
From 2017 the Group met regularly and 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 and restore it to world-class performing arts standards. Representations have been made to seek a new owner either by land swap or purchase, and to the current owner to potentially relinquish the property.
Additionally, the Group established a Roxy Theatre Action Group website to represent the Group’s objectives and keep interested people up to date and created a petition to “Revive the Parramatta Roxy Theatre”.
In 2018 the Roxy’s owner put forward a “Concept Development Application” (DA) to Council to allow a 33-storey commercial tower to be built behind and cantilevered over the theatre. This would be achieved by demolishing the rear of the building from the dress circle back. This tower would be supported on legs driven through the side walls of the theatre, and the theatre foyer would become an entrance to the tower and its function rooms.
This DA was subsequently rejected by the Council; the Heritage Council of NSW in July 2018 and the Central Sydney Regional Planning Panel in September 2018.
As a result of these rejections the owner appealed to the Land and Environment Court of NSW (LEC).
In March 2019, an LEC Conciliation Conference was held on-site to discuss the DA but this conference was terminated with the owner choosing to go to a three-day court hearing in June 2019.
At both LEC hearings the Roxy Theatre Action Group put forward three speakers to oppose the DA. Brian Powyer, National Trust (NSW) Chair spoke on behalf of the Trust; Les Tod (OAM) spoke on behalf of the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society, and Theatre Heritage Australia; and Robert Fox spoke on behalf of the Roxy Theatre Action Group.
Les Tod, Cheryl Bates and Robert Fox attended each day of the three-day hearing where expert witnesses presented arguments for and against the DA.
As a result of the Group’s representations and the subsequent LEC hearings the DA was rejected on heritage grounds. This judgement provided a strong statement about preservation of items that are heritage listed; so much so that the LEC Commissioner did not feel it necessary to deal with the many other issues raised by Council.
In late 2019, and following the LEC decision, the Council’s CBD Planning Proposal has excluded the Roxy Theatre site from the 10:1 Floor Space Ratio and limited development on the site to 18 metres, thus prohibiting high-rise development on the Roxy site.
The Group continues to make representations to local, State government and investors to restore the Roxy Theatre to its former glory and ensure that the people of western Sydney have an opportunity to visit this unique theatre.
Sadly, the Roxy is still in private ownership with the owner stating after the LEC rejection in 2019 that he will re-establish a hotel in the building. This has not happened to date, and the building sits idle and deteriorates.
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. This revival is in keeping with the Department of Planning and Environment’s Plan for Growing Sydney (2014) to ensure that “important heritage areas will be protected and celebrated, and arts and culture will help build vibrant communities”.
This is a once only opportunity to protect and celebrate this iconic heritage listed building and revive it as a major live performance venue capable of housing world class blockbuster live performances.
Cheryl Bates
President, National Trust of Australia (NSW) – Parramatta Regional Branch