Venue: Theatre Royal and Metropole Hotel
Town: Perth, AU

The Theatre Royal and Metropole Hotel is a heritage-listed building in Perth, Western Australia, located at 637-645 Hay Street. Both the hotel (also known as Hotel Metropole) and the theatre were built by businessman Thomas Molloy, completed in 1893 (1893) and 1897 (1897) respectively. Local businessman Thomas Molloy was instrumental in attracting finance and commissioning some of Perth's early cultural buildings. Up until the 1890s, Perth had no theatres, and actors performed in either the Perth Town Hall or in St George's Hall, described by The West Australian in 1891 as a place "where there is much that is unsuitable" and "the most significant proof of the old-time backwardness and poverty of Western Australia". At the time, Western Australia had 53,177 people-a figure that was to double within the next five years. On 20 September 1893, Molloy purchased Perth Lot F3 on the south side of what is now Hay Street Mall with the assistance of Alexander Forrest, then the Mayor of Perth, and obtained a publican's licence a week later. In 1894, the Hotel Metropole was constructed on the site, and in February 1895, he announced plans for a 1,000-seat theatre to be built on land adjoining the hotel. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs A. Forrest on 8 May 1895, and the Theatre Royal opened on 19 April 1897. While its initial success was mixed, due mainly to the changing economic and demographic characteristics of Perth, by the 1930s it had become the most popular picture theatre in Perth. Theatre Royal was the first venue in Australia to have Continental Wondergraph Company's new cinema technology demonstrated, in November 1909. It was the company's intention to have a limited season in Perth before proceeding to the eastern states, and it later established a cinema chain in Adelaide, South Australia. In 1934, the Grand Theatre Company acquired the lease of the Theatre Royal. This marked the end of live performances, and the exclusive use for cinematic shows. Refurbishments