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Plans of the Capitol Theatre, 1913-1970 [Municipal Council of Sydney / City of Sydney]

Description

Unique IDAS-0208Start dateBetween 1st January 1913 and 1st January 1970Start date qualifiercircaFormatPlanShort descriptionThis series contains the building plans for the conversion of the Hippodrome (1913 to 1927) into the Capitol Theatre. Most of the plans date from 1927-1928.DescriptionThis includes architectural, structural, mechanical ventilation, floor, elevation and detail plans. Most of the plans date from 18/02/1927 to 14/03/1928.

The plan series was created by the City Architect and Building Surveyors Department I (AG-0078) in the period 18/02/1927 to 14/03/1928. The series was preceded by the Plans of the Hippodrome (AS-0296) in the period 25/09/1913 to 18/01/1915.

The building, located in Haymarket, has a frontage of 112 feet to Campbell and Hay Streets, and 172 feet to Parker Street. It formed a portion of the block of buildings on the Sir William Manning Market site (Belmore Markets). Owned by Council, the building was rebuilt in 1914 and 1915 from the former Belmore Markets building (fruit and vegetable section) of reinforced concrete and was installed with an elaborate system of fire sprinklers, claimed to be advanced for the time.

The Hippodrome's stalls were arranged in the form of an amphitheatre round a water pit of 40 foot diameter and 12 foot deep, for acts of performing animals, such as seals and polar bears. On the same space a platform could be made level with the stage by means of hydraulic power to be used as a circus ring.

The building was constructed to be used as a hippodrome (a building with an arena for equestrian or circus acts), circus theatre, opera house, concert hall, vaudeville entertainment hall, for ‘photo-plays’ (cinema) as required.

It opened in April 1916 and was used chiefly by Wirth's Circus. By the mid 1920's, when Wirth's were no longer interested in using the Hippodrome and with the development of cinemas, the Hippodrome was remodelled as a cinema and opened on Easter Saturday, 1928.

The building ceased being used as a cinema during the 1970's and was utilised for live theatre, including rock concerts, opera and ballet. The last concert was performed in 1984 and the building remained unused while Council considered options for its use. In 1992 Council signed an agreement with the Company Ipoh Gardens to redevelop the site as a theatre for live shows.

The series includes original plans drawn by Council officers, such as the City Architect and copies of plans by consulting engineers and architects, dating from the conversion of the Belmore Market Building in 1913 to the present day.

Some plans would appear to form part of Building Application Plans (AS-0126), 1909+. These plans were those submitted by the City Architect to Council for approval. They appear to have been removed from the run of Building Application Plans by former plan custodians, and retain the BA number, usually on the back of the plan. Physically, all plans of Council-owned buildings have been stored in plan cabinets.

Sources
- Vade Mecum (AS-0043) 1916, 1927, 1928
- Proceedings of Council (AS-0029) 9.9.1913, 31.5.1927
- Town Clerk's File (AS-0034) 1105/27
- Heritage Council of NSW, Heritage Conservation News, 3(2), 1985.
Relationship summaryRELATED TO: Building Application Plans AS-0126 (18/02/1927 to 14/03/1928)
RELATED TO: Construction and maintenance of buildings and structures AY-1 (18/02/1927 to 14/03/1928)
LanguageEnglish (eng)

Item

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Detail of Proscenium

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Job no. 508 - Drawing no. 2A - Cross Section at Trus No. 8 & 2

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Longitudinal Section

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Job no. 508 - Drawing no. 3A - Half plan

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Job no. 508 - Drawing no. 3A - Stalls Plan

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Job no. 508 - Drawing no. 4A - Circle Foyer and Basement Plan

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Job no. 508 - Drawing no. 3A - Stalls Plan

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Artist's Impression

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Detail of Foldout Rail

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Left Side of Elevation

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Stalls Plan

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Mezzanine Floor Plan

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Arrangement of Aisles on Stalls Floor

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Longitudinal Section

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Stalls Plan

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Façade

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Proscenium Girders

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Detail of Girder G1

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Girders

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Job no. 508 - Framing Plan Showing Steelwork at Level of Foyer Floor

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Girders

Remodelling of Hippodrome for Capitol Theatre Sydney - Job no. 508 - Details of Proscenium Wall

Box

CSA117609

CSA028192

CSA027080

CSA027079

CSA027078

CSA027077

CSA027076

Series

Specifications for Council Properties, 1885-1991 [Municipal Council of Sydney / City of Sydney]

Access

Public access statusOpen to public access

Identification and Arrangement

Source system ID208System of arrangementSingle number

Digitisation

Digitisation statusNot digitised

Data Quality

Authenticity & integrityThese are the original Plans of the Capitol Theatre by the Municipal Council of Sydney / City of Sydney. The record has been held in the Council’s custody and has a high level of authenticity. Users should be aware that this is an historical record and the language used within the record was the language of the time it was captured, and may not reflect current community values or expectations.

Relationships

OrganisationSydney City CouncilPreceding seriesPlans of the Hippodrome, 1913-1915Related seriesBuilding Application (BA) Plans, 1909-1997 [Municipal Council of Sydney / City of Sydney]Creating agenciesCity Architect and Building Surveyor's Department IRelated activitiesConstruction and maintenance of buildings and structures

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Plans of the Capitol Theatre, 1913-1970 [Municipal Council of Sydney / City of Sydney]