22 March 2018

Yass's historic art deco Liberty Theatre for sale

| Ian Bushnell
Start the conversation

Prime position: The Liberty Theatre in Yass. Photos: Supplied.

For 35 years the Liberty Theatre in Yass provided a focal point for entertainment and a meeting place for the area’s young people, with the 700-seat cinema showing the latest releases before closing in the 1970s.

Now, after more than 40 years with various owners and tenants, the historic art deco theatre with its heritage-listed facade on a prime main street corner is on the market.

Built in 1939 for 13,000 pounds, the Liberty was state of the art and its luxurious fit-out provided a perfect setting for many bridal photo shoots in its early years.

The first feature to screen was Goodbye Mr Chips on 15 December 1939, with Australia at war and people in need of relief from the events unfolding in Europe.

A seat cost 1/6 in the stalls or 2/7 in the dress circle, and a sleek modern milk bar was established to provide refreshments during intermission. The Liberty Cafe is still in existence today.

While the dress circle and first floor foyer have remained largely untouched since 1974 (leaving a time-capsule and link to an earlier era), downstairs has seen a video store, art gallery and, the current tenants; Yass Repertory, Yass Art & Craft Co-op, and a commercial premises.

Many original features of the theatre remain including concealed neon lighting, decorative plasterwork and some original carpets, and Yass Rep still utilise it to stage two shows a year.

Yass Repertory has put the theatre to good use with two shows a year.

Yass Real Estate agent Edwina Brown said the theatre, on a prime corner site with two shopfronts in the main street, would suit someone who either had a love for old theatres or a potential developer looking to keep the façade and repurpose the building.

The owner, a local businessperson who bought the property in 2006 as a philanthropic gesture, has just dropped the price to offers over $580,000.

Ms Brown said interest had come from Sydney, Canberra and locally from those hoping to maintain the building as it is with minor changes, and perhaps repurposing it as a business premises.

She said the zoning allowed shopfront businesses or a multi-unit dwelling, however with the whole of the main street a heritage zone, the façade would need to be retained which does pose design challenges for anyone looking to redevelop the site.

“The façade would have to be left but what you do behind the façade, council is willing to enter into discussions,” she said.

“They may put in a small theatre, whether that’s stage or screen or a combination of both would remain to be seen but I would be very surprised if it reopened as a theatre in its entirety.”

The upstairs dress circle seats.

She said a mixed-use development with commercial premises on the ground floor and flats upstairs was the more likely outcome.

Yass itself was experiencing strong interest from buyers, mainly tree changers or people moving to Canberra for work but, with the capital only 40 minutes away, wanting a country lifestyle.

For more information contact Edwina Brown on 0429 327 059 or 62261922 or go here.

Start the conversation

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.