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The Empire Theatre, Toowoomba.

The original Empire Theatre was built and opened in 1911. In mid 1923, a new stage and dressing rooms were built and 1000 new seats were installed. It was further upgraded in 1928 and reopened in August that year. The theatre was destroyed by fire on Wednesday 22 February 1933. It was rebuilt in the popular ‘Art Deco’ style of the time and reopened on 27 November 1933.

The theatre was closed on 1 April 1971. It was later used as a Waltons department store, and later still as a TAFE college. It has been listed on the Queensland Heritage Register and was restored in 1997 (after a public campaign) as a multi-purpose venue, reopening on 28 June 1997.

The auditorium is famous for the large light display in the ceiling in the shape of a bomber, which was part of the restoration in 1997.

Opened: 1911 / 1933

Seating: 2400 / 1500

Current Status: Operational                                                                                                                                     

Picture credits: (color)  CATHS Archive collection.

 (b&w)   State Library of Queensland.