Demolition work begins for $47.2m Theatre Royal and museum project

Thursday, 24 July 2025

Preparations are under way ahead of the demolition of the Theatre Royal’s back of house and the back of the former Criterion building in Timaru.

A significant step is about to be taken in the long-awaited $47.2 million project to redevelop Timaru’s Theatre Royal and build a museum, as demolition work starts this week.

The theatre closed in November 2019 for safety reasons, with the Timaru District Council saying it was closed in advance of the multimillion-dollar upgrade as parts of the venue were not up to standard.

Public debate has been expressed since then over the shape of the redevelopment and rising costs. In July 2024, the council voted to dump a $57.1m plan to redevelop it and create a new heritage facility.

A design for the new project came about after a public meeting was held to discuss the future of the building.

On Wednesday, five-and-a-half years since the closure, contractors from Paul Smith Earthmoving erected fencing and scaffolding around the theatre and adjacent building at 132 Stafford St – formerly the Excelsior Hotel.

Renders for Timaru’s Theatre Royal project by NB Architects. This picture shows the theatre to the left, and the facade of the former Criterion to the right.

As part of the redevelopment, the back of the hotel, the oldest pub in town, would be demolished with the facade to be retained.

The theatre’s back-of-house would also be demolished as part of the project.

On Wednesday, Stephen Doran, the council’s group manager corporate and communications, said the contract to do the work was awarded to Paul Smith Earthmoving effective from July 7.

“In accordance with standard practice, over the course of that week Paul Smith Earthmoving submitted all of their pre-start documentation to TDC for approval, all of which needs to be done before works commence,’’ he said.

An aerial view of Timaru’s Theatre Royal in December 2024.

This included safety, traffic management and quality plans, and insurances from both the council and contractor.

He said physical work was to begin on Wednesday and was expected to take about two months.

Renders for Timaru’s Theatre Royal and museum project by NB Architects.

A preliminary design contract had been signed with Newlove Browning Architects (NB) and DLA Architects for the design of a theatre and museum, and they were working on the next steps which would see designs developed, a council spokesperson has confirmed.

Earlier this month, businesses and residents in Stafford St received a letter from Paul Smith Earthmoving advising them of work, which was expected to begin on July 14, on a section of the street from Woollcombe St to George St.

But on Wednesday Doran said the work had not been delayed.

The letter also said crane operations would take place, with the cranes being set up on Stafford St between Woollcombe and George streets.

It said the street would run one-way southbound only, between the roads outlined and northbound traffic would be detoured via Woollcombe St onto Barnard St and then to George St.

Those interested in the construction contract had until Thursday to register.

The council, which had chosen to run a multi-step procurement process, would then evaluate and create a shortlist of respondents which were to be notified by August 8.

Those shortlisted would then need to submit a full proposal, via a tendering process, by November 3.

From there, the council planned to award the contract by December 8, leaving just 12 months for the project to be completed.

The council had just 18 months to complete the projects, as per its agreement with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to remain eligible for a $11.6m Government contribution.