The Empire Theatre

The Empire Theatre is an Art Deco building in Toowoomba featuring geometric designs and palm frond pilasters that create its distinctive look. The structure contains multiple performance spaces with varying capacities to accommodate different types of events.

The theatre was built in 1911 and completely rebuilt and enlarged after a fire in 1933. Following the reconstruction, it became one of Queensland's largest theatres outside the capital.

The theatre served as the main gathering place where the town came together to watch films and performances for generations. Today, visitors and locals still use it to experience theatre, music, and live events throughout the year.

The building sits at a busy location in the city center and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should note that different spaces have separate entrances and exits, so it helps to check the layout before arriving.

The theatre features advanced steel construction with riveted girders that span the entire width of the auditorium without needing support columns. This engineering solution allowed the interior to remain open without obstruction, something theatre-goers rarely notice but always benefit from.

Location: Queensland

Architectural style: Art Deco

Website: http://empiretheatre.com.au

GPS coordinates: -27.56310,151.95600

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:55