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Princess Theatre 8 Annerley Road, Woolloongabba, QLD

Source - Photo & Notes courtesy of the Passing Time web-site.

The Princess Theatre was on Annerley Road on the Woolloongabba side. The building was built in 1888 on what was then known as Boggo Road for solicitor Phillip Hardgrave and the South Brisbane Public Hall Company. The building was designed by architect John B. Nicholson and built by Blair Cunningham to the sum of £5,220.

Upon opening the privately owned Hall was known as the South Brisbane Public Hall (1888-1891) and the Boggo Road Theatre (1892-1893).

In 1893 Phillip Hardgrave sold the property to his father, former mayor of Brisbane, John Hardgrave who renamed the venue the Princess Theatre. The building was used for live performances and vaudeville shows and did not become a major theatrical venue in Brisbane.

In 1899 Brisbane draper Thomas Finney purchased the building and used it as a clothing factory, while still occasionally hiring out the stage for performances. Boggo Road was renamed Annerley Road in 1906 as residents didn’t like the association with Boggo Road Gaol.

From 1914 to 1942 it was leased as a movie house The building was sold in 1912 and rented out to clothing manufacturers West Olympia, then from 1914 to 1942 it was leased as a movie house and performance space for amateur theatre. Some of the theatre companies that performed here in the 1930s were Brisbane Repertory Theatre (now La Boite), Brisbane Arts Theatre and the Twelfth Night Theatre Company (now TN! Theatre Co.).

During WWII (1942-1945) the theatre served as the rehearsal and administrative centre for the United States Entertainment Unit.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -