Originally published in Waikato Times, Friday 4 April 2025.
By Madeleine Powers.
Scaffolding has been taken down revealing another section of the façade. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.
Passersby on Hamilton’s Victoria Street got the first look at another section of the Regional Theatre’s new façade after scaffolding was removed on Wednesday.
The appearance of a fresh section of the restored plaster façade of the old hotel frontage is another visible milestone for locals and visitors in the ongoing construction of the 1300-seat theatre that promises to revolutionise entertainment in the city.
The decision to preserve the building’s neoclassical façade is getting the tick from people seeing it for the first time, who say it blends old and new.
Hamilton man Dale Thompson said it was “definitely” a good idea idea to preserve the building’s façade.
The restored façade is from the original Hamilton hotel frontage. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.
“It’s good to keep our connection to the past, which Hamilton is quite bad at.”
“It’s been in Hamilton since the early 1900s, the queen stayed there.”
Built in 1923, the restoration team has employed a “crack injection” process to help stabilise the masonry while also intentionally retaining flaws.
The façade is lit up at night by lights. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.
Colin Hancock, owner of Trek’n’Travel on Victoria Street across the road from the theatre, said it looked “absolutely fantastic”.
When he came into work early Thursday morning the façade was lit up, and looked “just beautiful”.
“It’s looking really good.”
Colin Hancock, owner of Trek’n’Travel, says the theatre façade is “absolutely fantastic”. PHOTO: Stephen Ward / WAIKATO TIMES.
“The end result speaks for itself,” he said.
“It’s got the right colour, the right result.”
Donna Ferguson, owner of Scott’s Epicurean also has a front seat to the theatre developments.
Donna Ferguson of Scott’s Epicurean said she “loves” the façade. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.
She said it was “awesome” to see the stages.
“Yesterday that came down and it’s awesome, now we can see it and it’s so beautiful.”
“It’s so cool how they’re kept it [the façade] and they’ve gone for modern on the left side.”
Hamilton man Kelvin Kewish said he approved of the old façade. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.
Local man Kelvin Kewish said he “loved” the old façade.
“It’s part of our history.”
“It’ll be good to see it once it’s all unfolded, the old and the new.”
Kath and Willie Wilson were just passing through and having a coffee at Scott’s Epicurean. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.
Kath Wilson and Willie were just passing through, but Kath said it was a “nice facade”, but it was a pity about the “big black bit” at the back.
The addition of cladding on top of the theatre’s fly tower - the “big black box” currently sitting atop the main building- is the next step in construction.
The façade viewed from below. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.
Over the coming weeks the team tasked with restoring the façade will progressively work their way further down towards the southern end of the building, and then around the corner into Sapper Moore Jones Place.
Still missing from the final picture is the canopy shelter that will extend out and over the pavement.
Construction on the building is set to be complete in time for the theatre opening at the end of the year.