Frequently Asked Questions

We have a vision to restore and reactivate the Minerva Theatre as a theatre and live performance venue, and we are consulting with the community before finalising plans.

The Minerva Theatre is protected at both state and local heritage levels, and any restoration or redevelopment must carefully preserve its significant architectural and cultural features aligned with its heritage significance.

The theatre’s original features are being celebrated and preserved. We aim to retain as much of the original design as possible, while also ensuring it is commercially viable and aligns with modern safety, accessibility, compliance and operational standards.

The vision is to restore the Minerva Theatre close to its original seating capacity. The proposed 900-seat capacity of the Minerva Theatre Project reflects the theatre’s heritage while adapting the building to contemporary standards. It would create a high-quality mid-sized venue that Sydney currently lacks, giving producers greater flexibility, supporting a broader and more diverse range of productions and providing a long-term viable operating model for the theatre.

The project presents an opportunity to return an important heritage building to active use as a working theatre. It has the potential to support artists, performers and audiences, contribute to Sydney’s cultural infrastructure and night-time economy, and attract visitors who may also support surrounding businesses.

The timeline for the Minerva Theatre will be determined as the consultation, planning and approvals processes progress. We look forward to sharing updates with the community as they arise.

The Minerva Theatre Project team includes Project Manager WINIM, Tribe Studio Architects, and community engagement specialists CRED Consulting.

No application for the current Minerva Theatre Project has been lodged yet. The project team is consulting the community to inform and finalise a State Significant Development Application.

The proposal is being lodged as a State Significant Development Application to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI).

The first step in the State Significant Development (SSD) planning pathway is lodging a request with DPHI for the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs). The SEARs ensure government agencies and relevant service providers are informed and provided with the opportunity to request certain information be addressed within the SSDA.

The next step is to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This will assess any potential impacts associated with the restoration works and suggest mitigation measures. As they take this step, the project team will engage again with residents, businesses and community groups. Feedback from the community will be collated in an Engagement Report and included in the submission to DPHI to inform future planning.

After the SSDA has been lodged, DPHI will publicly exhibit the proposal. At this point, the community can make formal submissions.

As with all State Significant Development Applications, the relevant local council (the City of Sydney) is consulted at several stages of the project.

We will be able to share construction updates once the planning and approvals process is complete. We will keep the community informed as each stage progresses.

If approved, the project team will prepare a series of construction management plans to guide how any identified construction impacts will be managed. The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure determines what types of management plans these will be, but we anticipate these will include plans to manage construction traffic, noise and vibration, dust, waste and heritage protection.

WINIM has appointed CRED Consulting to lead a community consultation program which includes a series of activities.

An online webinar hosted via Zoom on 21 October at 5:45pm, where we will introduce the proposal and answer any initial questions. You can register for the webinar here.

Community drop-in sessions where you can provide feedback and ask questions directly with the project team. These are on 17 October and 24 October, both between 10:00am and 12:00pm at Kings Cross Markets in Fitzroy Gardens. You do not need to register for the drop-in sessions, you can arrive at a time that suits you.

A community workshop where we will seek your ideas to inform the development of future operational management plans. To register your interest in the community workshop please email info@minervatheatreproject.com.au. Please note places are limited so you will be notified if you are selected to participate.

A program of community consultation will take place before any designs are finalised. We want to work with neighbouring residents, businesses and key stakeholders to inform our plans.

To ask questions or provide feedback on the project, please get in contact with the project team at info@minervatheatreproject.com.au. You can also complete an online feedback form on the project webpage.

Feedback received during consultation will be considered as the proposal is refined ahead of lodgement. It will also be compiled into an Engagement Report, which will be lodged alongside the application.