The excavators moved in on Friday to step up the demolition of the Capitol Theatre. Photo: Region.
The walls of the Capitol Theatre building have come tumbling down as the Liangis family clears the site in preparation for Stage 2 of its Manuka hotel project.
Work started at the beginning of last month to gut the building and make the site safe before the excavators moved in on Friday (15 December) to complete the demolition.
The Canberra Avenue and Franklin Street sides are screened with blue mesh on scaffolding, but the front view reveals the insides of the cinemas, including their signature red curtains.
The demolition is another important milestone for the site and for Manuka, which hopes to regain its status as a premium shopping and dining precinct.
The Liangis family’s hotel project is key to this rejuvenation. The six-storey, 58-room first stage is complete but unopened, while a standoff over planning requirements and lease variation charges resulted in the empty theatre site standing idle for years.
The scene on Monday morning (18 December), revealing the red curtain of one of the cinemas. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
The planning authority approved the proposal for a six-storey building with 120 rooms, a ballroom, dining and bar facilities, a multiplex with five cinemas, ground floor shops and a restaurant in July 2021.
This will be integrated with Stage 1 and complete the redevelopment of Section 96, bound by Furneaux Street, Franklin Street, Flinders Way and Canberra Avenue.
But it wasn’t until the middle of this year that there was movement on the larger stage when a lease change was approved, followed by notice of the LVC payable in September.
The view along Canberra Avenue. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
The Capitol Theatre building now being demolished was the second theatre on the site.
The original Capitol Theatre, Canberra’s first purpose-built cinema, opened in 1927 with more than 1000 seats.
It was managed by Franklyn Barrett, a well-known former film producer, director and cinematographer, and presented a mixed program of theatrical acts and films, a formula that was popular for many years.
Seating was provided in orchestra and balcony levels.
The first 70 mm presentation at the Capitol Theatre was Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines.
In 1980, there was a strong campaign to prevent its demolition, but this failed, and the building was demolished overnight.
In May 2020, the owner announced that the cinema would not be reopening after closing earlier that year due to COVID-19.
The hotel development will redefine that side of Manuka, providing five-star accommodation and a fine dining, shopping and entertainment experience close to Parliament House and opposite Manuka Oval.
The Liangis Group has three years to complete the development once construction starts.
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