Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

State Theatre

From the Gothic skyscraper style exterior to the Baroque drama of the Rotunda and the grandeur of the auditorium, the theatre and Art Deco shopfronts form a lavish and significant entertainment venue. Built as a cinema and multi storey retail arcade with a ballroom and theatrette, it remains a popular venue though many of the uses ceased in the late twentieth century.

-33.870874996634, 151.20737136955

Milestone
Constructed
1929
Name
Commemorated by
Position
Type

State Theatre

CC BY-SA 2.0
,
2008

The State Theatre was built at the height of cinema-going in Australia, just before the 1930s Depression. It was designed to seat nearly 3,000, with room for an orchestra and a Wurlitzer organ.