His Majesty's Theatre

It is an elaborate structure, and is reputed to be the only remaining Edwardian theatre in Australia. Costing a hefty £46 000 in 1904, it took Mr Tom Molloy two years to build. Two years is a long time in show business, and he probably regretted not issuing the labourers with a performance contract prior to opening night.

The theatre was designed by an American architect named William Wolfe, who would have been disappointed to know that two tiers of balconies were removed in 1947. The supporting pillars were deemed to be a traffic hazard, as the building is located on the busy corner of King and Hay Streets. The interior is highly decorated, as it originally included a rather posh hotel.

During it's formative years, the theatre's horseshoe auditorium seated 2,584 people across three tiers. The old dome roof incorporated a sliding mechanism, which was opened during Perth's warm nights. With even a poor performance it was still possible to raise the roof. On the particularly balmy nights the real stars of the show were light years above the stage. As new forms of entertainment and alternative venues became available, the theatre started to fall into neglect by the 1970's. It's last performance seemed destined to be an explosive one, however public outcry forced the State Government to purchase and renovate the theatre. The performing arts now continue to enjoy the facilities of His Majesty's Theatre.

Why not take a short walk down King Street after checking out His Majesty's Theatre. Named after King William IV, King Street was officially gazetted in 1845. You can see many old buildings established from around the gold rush period of the 1890's. They are now occupied by trendy cafes and very expensive boutiques. Let the architecture take you back to days gone by, and then allow the retail prices to jolt you back into reality.