Paramatta’s Roxy Theatre tapped to be next music venue

The Roxy Theatre in Parramatta has been closed and falling decrepit since 2014.

But the heritage Spanish style George Street building could well become the Sydney inner west’s new Enmore Theatre or Ivy, say excited local business leaders.

The Roxy’s owner David Kingston is talking about turning it into a major 700-capacity live music venue.

The Roxy started out in 1930 as a cinema and was a cinema under the Village and Roadshow banners until it closed in 2003 after which it became a nightclub The Roxy.

Kingston, a one time Rothschild investment bank director bought the building in recent years and turned it into a pub that showcased live music before closing four years ago after patron behaviour caused issues with police.

In December 2017, Kingston proposed a $96 million 30-storey office tower above the Roxy, with a five-storey cultural hub, and to include cinemas, restaurants and retail stores.

The development application was refused by the Sydney Central City Planning Panel last month, which recommended the office block be 12 storeys.

Kingston, has challenged the decision in the NSW Land and Environment Court.

If he loses the 30-storey office block, he will then turn the building into a nightclub and pub format.

Inner west business leaders as Western Sydney Business Chamber director David Borger told the Sydney Morning Herald that the state government should help fund the Roxy’s restoration, similar to what the Victorian government did with the Palais Theatre in Melbourne’s St. Kilda.

Clare McCann from the Save the Roxy Theatre group said the community would like to see it turned into a space where theatre, music, film and art could all be exhibited.