Dive into the story of a building reborn. This is the Majestic in Petersham. It is a place where echoes of the past harmonize with the rhythms of modern life.
Once upon a time in 1917, the Brennan family commissioned Elder and Totterdell to erect a theater here in Newtown. They named it the Majestic Theatre. Imagine this block bustling with anticipation. Sir Benjamin and John Fuller leased the Majestic. They staged variety and melodrama shows until around 1953.
Later, in 1955, the Majestic Theatre became the home of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust. It was Australia’s first national theatre company. The Majestic became a cultural touchstone, a place of dreams and shared experiences. The original building met a tragic end. A fire gutted the Majestic Theatre in 1980.
Fast forward, the Majestic in Petersham underwent a metamorphosis. The old theater was transformed into a multi-unit residential complex. The original 1920s design got an art deco makeover in the 1950s. Noted cinema architect Guy Crick shaped the Majestic’s new look.
When television thinned cinema audiences in the 1960s, the Majestic became a roller rink. Later, it became a nightclub. For a time, it stood vacant, traded between different owners until a developer acquired it.
Architect Philip Thalis adopted a “pack and stack” approach. The Majestic building was ingeniously redesigned to accommodate many compact apartments. Each apartment is unique. They are laid out over three levels. The ground floor now hosts retail shops.
Two atria serve as key internal elements. Daylight streams through, accentuating the conserved original ceiling. The dramatic timber and steel trusses remain a testament to the Majestic’s past. Salvaged elements from the cinema and roller rink are showcased throughout the Majestic building. A “Roller Skating” sign lights the entry lobby. Red-painted steam radiators line the atrium walls. A handwritten signboard lists reasons for ejection from the rink.
The Majestic’s exterior retains many original features. The painted sign on the corrugated cladding has been cleverly modified into sliding window screens. The free-style classical/deco facade is conserved, complete with original entry doors, tiles, and signs.
The Majestic stands as an example of architectural and economic balance. It is a place where residents happily call home. It retains the echoes of magical “talkies”. The Majestic is a legacy of entertainment and architectural innovation in Sydney’s Inner West.