The Princess Theatre is located on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nations

Melbourne has an extraordinary number of extravagant theatres, and none is closer to the hearts of its theatre-goers than the Princess — the oldest in the city. It was completed in 1886 by William Pitt, with extensive external works in the early 1900s and interior remodelling in 1922. In 2018 we completed the conservation and restoration of its glorious Second Empire facade and decorative scheme, largely untouched since 1989. Traditional methods and materials have been used in a precise restoration/reconstruction of the elaborate and ornamentation, and the fabric of the building has been preserved wherever possible. The 1922 colour scheme has been restored following rigorous investigations. The best-practice conservation of the Princess is an important outcome for Melbourne and its theatre practitioners, conservation technicians and tradespeople. It’s a unique building that stands comparison with London counterparts, and it looks beautiful, twinkling once more as the lights come on for evening performances.