The Princess Theatre, Melbourne — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Melbourne's magnificent Princess Theatre holds a distinction that few entertainment venues can claim: it's the oldest surviving entertainment site on mainland Australia, with roots stretching back to 1854 when the gold rush was at its wildest. The original building was a rough-and-ready affair called Astley's Amphitheatre, built by entertainment entrepreneur Tom Mooney to cash in on the flood of miners looking for excitement after long days in the goldfields. The transformation came in 1886 when architect William Pitt rebuilt the theatre in the lavish Second Empire style, creating the stunning building that still turns heads today. Pitt was ahead of his time: the Princess Theatre featured the world's first sliding ceiling, a revolutionary mechanism that could roll back to create an open-air effect, bringing the night sky into the auditorium. The theatre also pioneered state-of-the-art electric lighting, making it one of the most technologically advanced entertainment venues of its era. The ornate facade, with its mansard roof, decorative ironwork, and grand entrance, captures the confidence and wealth of 1880s Melbourne, when the city was called "Marvellous Melbourne" for good reason. Local legend says the ghost of baritone Frederick Baker, who died during a performance in 1888, still haunts the theatre. Questo's Melbourne performing arts trail brings you to this gorgeous survivor where gold-rush entertainment evolved into world-class theatre.