Collection: Regent Theatre: Brisbane CBD

The Regent Theatre and Queen Street Mall are two closely linked icons that reflect the evolution of Brisbane’s CBD as both an entertainment and retail centre. The Regent Theatre, constructed between 1928 and 1929 on Queen Street, was one of Australia’s grand “picture palaces,” designed in an opulent style to showcase films and live performances during the height of the Hollywood cinema era 1&2. Opened in November 1929, it became a major cultural venue, though much of its original auditorium was lost during redevelopment in the late twentieth century, with only the foyer and façade preserved as heritage elements 1. In contrast, the Queen Street Mall represents a later phase of urban transformation, when Brisbane’s main commercial street was converted into a pedestrian mall in 1982 to revitalise the city centre and accommodate increasing retail activity  3. Designed by architect Robin Gibson and opened by Queen Elizabeth II, the mall was expanded in 1988 and has since undergone several refurbishments, becoming the city’s प्रमुख retail and social hub 3. Together, these sites illustrate Brisbane’s shift from early twentieth-century entertainment culture to a modern pedestrian-focused commercial precinct.

References:

• Regent Theatre, Brisbane - Wikipedia 1
  
• MoB Sunday Stories: The Regent Theatre - Museum of Brisbane 2
  
• Queen Street Mall - Wikipedia 3