Regent Theatre (Brisbane, Qld.)

Identity area

Type of entity

Corporate body

Authorized form of name

Regent Theatre (Brisbane, Qld.)

Parallel form(s) of name

Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

Other form(s) of name

  • Regent Building (Brisbane, Qld.)
  • Capitol Theatre (Brisbane, Qld.)
  • Capitol Building (Brisbane, Qld.)

Identifiers for corporate bodies

Description area

Dates of existence

1929-2010

History

The Regent Building, located at 167 Queen Street and extending through to Elizabeth Street, Brisbane, was part of a grand theatre complex constructed between 1928 and 1929, designed by Charles N. Hollinshed and Richard Gailey Jr. Originally, it was to be known as the Capitol Building. Originally housing the lavish 2,500-seat Regent Theatre (to be known as the Capitol Theatre), ornate foyer, retail spaces, and offices, the complex epitomised the golden era of picture palaces. The Theatre opened in November 1929, showcasing a richly decorated interior that blended Baroque, Gothic, and Classical styles, and featured a Wurlitzer organ, imported chandeliers, and opulent furnishings. The Queen Street section included commercial tenancies and a prestigious entrance hall, while the auditorium spanned the Elizabeth Street frontage.

After declining cinema attendance in the mid-twentieth century, the Regent was redeveloped in 1980 into Hoyts Entertainment Centre with four smaller cinemas, retaining only the original foyer and entrance hall. Despite heritage efforts and public protest, most of the original theatre was demolished in 1979. The building was partly heritage-listed in the 1990s, and further redevelopment in 2010 saw the remaining cinemas removed to make way for a commercial tower, while conserving the Queen Street facade and foyer as part of a mixed-use complex. Until its final closure in 2010, the Regent played a key cultural role in Brisbane and hosted the Brisbane International Film Festival.

Places

Legal status

Functions, occupations and activities

Mandates/sources of authority

Internal structures/genealogy

General context

Relationships area

Access points area

Subject access points

Place access points

Occupations

Control area

Authority record identifier

AU QU

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Revised

Level of detail

Partial

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Revised, Kymberley Doyle, 16-Jul-2025.

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Brisbane building : the new year's programme. (1928, December 12). The Telegraph, p.8, accessed via Trove online 16-Jul-2025.
Queensland Government. (2025). Regent Building. Queensland Government Queensland Heritage Register website, accessed online 16-Jul-2025.

Maintenance notes

Revised sources and history, Kymberley Doyle, 16-Jul-2025.

  • Clipboard

  • Export

  • EAC

Related subjects

Related places