CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

Throughout the 1850s the theatre was attached to a hotel/bar on Hargraves St which was often frequented by miners. It was used as a theatre assembly hall and auction room.

In 1856 with the advent of prohibition on the goldfields, the theatre was re-modelled as a theatre/ ballroom.

In 1874 there was a fire at the theatre, though reports differ of how much d amaged occurred.
Whilst the buildings facade is protected by National Trust and cannot be altered the inside can be re-developed at will. At a recent auction (c.2001) the theatre was passed in for $575,000, pleasing those who do not want the building turned into a supermarket by an interested developer.
From the 1930s-1980s the theatre was owned by Vin Holland with the present owners being John and Donna Walter.

The Theatre Royal is still running, making it the oldest operating theatre in Australia.

References
Film Weekly, Film Weekly: motion picture directory, Film Weekly, Sydney. 1946/7-1971
Howson, D 2001, 'The mortification of Lola' Cinema Record, Iss.33, Winter, pp.26-28.
Ryllis Clark, M 2001, 'Sense of theatre', Age, June 2.
'Royal History' Theatre Royal Castlemaine viewed November 2011, http://www.theatreroyal.info/html/s12_content/default.asp?tnid=15
Wyldbore, J 1988, 'Castlemaine's unique theatre royal', Kino, No.26, December, pp.9-11.
Lowry, L 2002, 'Top award for Royal', Midland Express, August 27, p.1.

http://www.theatreroyal.info/html/s01_home/home.asp