Theatre Royal Redevelopment
Timaru District Council is redeveloping the historic Theatre Royal, Timaru and constructing a new Museum on an adjacent site, joined by a laneway to create a vibrant arts and culture venue for the community.
Originally built in 1869 as a stone store and later converted into a theatre in 1877, the Theatre Royal, Timaru is a Heritage New Zealand Category 2 listed building and one of Timaru’s most significant heritage landmarks.
The site of the museum on Barnard Street was formerly occupied by the Olympia Hall, a prominent Edwardian building constructed in 1910 as a 2,000-seat multi-use venue designed by architect James Turnbull. Originally hosting silent movies, roller-skating, and events such as the 1909 South Canterbury Jubilee, it was taken over in 1939 by the New Zealand Army who used it as a drill hall during World War II. The building was demolished in 2021 to make way for the current development.
For more than 150 years, the Theatre Royal has been a central gathering place for the community, hosting generations of performances, events, and celebrations. This redevelopment will carefully preserve the building’s heritage character while upgrading it to meet modern performance and safety standards.
A new laneway links the two facilities, from the museum on Barnard Street through to the theatre on Stafford Street, providing a public space for people to informally gather before or after visiting the new facilities or as a space in its own right.
The new Museum facility allows for the existing South Canterbury Museum collection to be relocated to a modern fit-for-purpose facility. The purpose-built exhibition, education, and programme spaces allow for national and international visiting exhibitions, while also displaying the permanent collection in a fresh environment.
Together, the theatre, museum, and laneway create a shared space that encourages interaction with each other, history, art and culture for locals and visitors.
Watch the video below to see an artist’s impression fly-through of the new facilities, for an indication of what to expect when they open.
Note: these images are indicative only, amendments to design features may vary from what is shown.
How is the project tracking?
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Last updated: 11 Feb 2026