Historic Revival: Newcastle Post Office and Victoria Theatre Secure $2 Million Restoration Boost

1 July 2025

Victoria Theatre Restoration – Artists Impression

newy.com.au – Two of Newcastle’s most historically significant buildings, the former Newcastle Post Office and the Victoria Theatre, will receive $1 million each in State Government funding to support major restoration and public reopening efforts.

The grants were announced on 1 July 2025 as part of the NSW Government’s record $8.65 million 2025–27 Heritage Grants Program. It is the first time in the program’s history that individual projects have received grants of this size. The funding aims to revitalise the heritage-listed sites as public and cultural destinations, supporting both local identity and tourism.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp welcomed the funding as a major win for the city’s heritage and future development. “After years of campaigning for the restoration of Newcastle Post Office, I am thrilled work will be kicking off soon to reopen the doors by mid-2027,” he said. “These $2 million grants not only preserve two distinguished heritage-listed local landmarks but also transform their facilities to meet the needs of a new era.” Crakanthorp described the announcement as “a brilliant outcome for Newcastle’s economy and cultural heritage,” and praised the community’s long-standing advocacy for the projects.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Dr Ross Kerridge also highlighted the transformative impact of the investment. “One grant will drive the refurbishment of the historic Victoria Theatre to return it to being an active theatre and music venue. Apart from being a win for heritage, it will provide an exciting venue filling the gap between small venues and the large Civic Theatre,” he said. “A separate heritage grant will accelerate the restoration and refurbishment of Newcastle’s historic Post Office building. The building has sat unused for 25 years, but with this grant the owner Jerry Schwartz has committed to restoring and reactivating the building within two years.”

The Newcastle Post Office, a 1903 Federation building designed by Walter Liberty Vernon, will be restored with matched private investment from owner Dr Jerry Schwartz. Works will include conservation, structural repairs, accessibility improvements, and adaptive reuse features such as a 1960s model of the city and Australia’s first Aboriginal Medical Museum.

The Victoria Theatre, dating back to 1891 and the oldest surviving theatre in New South Wales, will undergo extensive heritage restoration. The works will unveil the building’s original façade, open the long-inaccessible dress circle, and include interpretative displays. The Next Century Trust, a not-for-profit charity managing the project, has already secured an additional $6.65 million in combined government and private contributions. “Inspired by the Enmore Theatre in Newtown’s recent renovation, programmable lighting and heritage interpretation will illuminate the grand 1890s façade, turning it into a visual landmark,” said project manager Daniel Ballantyne.

Heritage Minister Penny Sharpe said the funding marked a significant milestone in the State’s approach to conservation. “Awarding these major grants for the first time in the program’s history reflects the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to supporting heritage conservation and preservation works,” she said. “Both projects are set to transform the Newcastle region by delivering significant cultural, social and economic capital.”

Arts Minister John Graham added the refurbished Victoria Theatre would help position Newcastle as a cultural centre. “Having ornate Victoria Theatre back in action will be a big boost for Newcastle’s night-time economy and a feather in the cap of the city’s cultural life,” he said.

Councillor Declan Clausen also welcomed the announcement, describing the funding as a critical step towards reactivating two of Newcastle’s most iconic landmarks. “These are two of our city’s most significant heritage buildings, and for too long they have sat idle,” he said. “This investment will help activate these landmarks, so they can once again play a vibrant role in our cultural life.”

Former councillor and media personality Carol Duncan also supported the news, congratulating the project team behind the Victoria Theatre’s restoration.