Princess Theatre

The Princess Theatre on Spring Street is identifiable by its ornate French Second Empire facade, which features a mansard roof, decorative ironwork, and a pediment topped with a figure of Fame. Originally established as Astley's Amphitheatre in eighteen fifty-four, it stands as the oldest surviving entertainment site on mainland Australia. The current building, designed by architect William Pitt, opened in eighteen eighty-six and was celebrated for its state-of-the-art electric lighting and a revolutionary sliding ceiling that could roll back to reveal the night sky.