Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp has announced that a Daley Labor Government will provide $3 million towards restoring the historic Victoria Theatre.

The state contribution of $3 million will go towards the $9.5 million plan to revive the Victoria Theatre as a new 1,000 seat theatre in Newcastle.

The investment would assist in reactivating the venue which hasn’t been used as a live performance venue since 1966 and was originally completed in 1891.

The Victoria Theatre was bought by Century Venues in 2015 and has been working to restore it to its former glory as a live working heritage theatre.

Century Venues has a track record of restoring and successfully running venues in Sydney like the Enmore Theatre. The company also runs the Metro Theatre, The Factory Theatre and the Sydney Comedy Store.

The contribution will be given to the theatre in a one- off grant to a public trust. This not for profit trust will hold the land and building, in perpetuity, and will be charged with returning the Victoria Theatre as a live performance and event facility for use by the people of Newcastle and the Hunter – not unlike the revived Capitol Theatre in Haymarket Sydney.

Labor believes the arts and music should be for all of NSW – and Newcastle and the Hunter should not miss out.

“With the revival of the Victoria Theatre and the proposed redevelopment of the Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle’s creative community is finally getting the funding that they deserve.” Tim Crakanthorp, Member for Newcastle