The old picture theatre on Clyde St is set to be
demolished. Photo by Rachel Taylor.
The 109-year-old Britannia Theatre building in Clyde St,
Balclutha, is to be demolished.
The building is owned by Kai Point Coal, and managing
director Blair Cross said the building would be demolished
"in due course".
"It's well beyond its use-by date, and has been for the last
20 years."
The theatre was bought by the company in the early 1990s.
It was not in good condition at that time, he said.
South Otago Museum curator Gary Ross said the building was
contructed in 1901 as an Oddfellows hall and converted into a
picture theatre about 1935.
"We've been calling it an Art Deco, but it's actually a
Victorian building."
Clutha District Council district inspector Ray Applegarth
confirmed a building consent to demolish had been issued on
December 14.
Structural problems had been highlighted, but the council had
not taken things "to the next level, because the owner chose
to self-impose", he said.
Mr Cross said the site had commercial potential, but there
were no plans for what might replace the picture theatre.
The 75-year-old former Clutha County Council building which
stood on the corner of Clyde and Elizabeth Sts was demolished
last October. It was also owned by Mr Cross, who said there
were still no concrete plans for development of the site.
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