Decision details

Moved by Councillor Forster, seconded by Councillor Phelps –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         there has been longstanding community support for the iconic Metro Theatre - Kings Cross at 28-30 Orwell Street, Potts Point, to be acquired by City of Sydney Council for use as a community cultural facility;

(ii)        the luxurious Art Deco style theatre and offices were originally built in 1939 as a live entertainment complex called the Minerva;

(iii)      the building was bought and renamed The Metro Kings Cross in 1948 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and converted into a cinema in 1952;

(iv)      after MGM was bought out by Greater Union Organisation in 1969, Harry M. Miller staged the musical Hair at the theatre and it returned to live theatre use until 1976;

(v)       it was converted into a short-lived shopping centre in 1981 before being acquired in 1982 for use as a film studio by Kennedy Miller Mitchell;

(vi)      The Metro is a building with unique architectural heritage, cultural and historic significance to both the local community and Sydney as a whole; and

(vii)     in March 2019 Abacus Property Group purchased the building for $19.8 million, but may now be seeking to sell it; and

(B)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         investigate whether The Metro Theatre – Kings Cross is available for sale, begin negotiations with the vendors and/or their agents over the possible acquisition by Council of the site for adaptive re-use as a theatre, film or cultural facility; and

(ii)        report back to Council as soon as practicable on the results of these negotiations. 

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Note – the motion above was not carried. The resolution as below was carried –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         there has been longstanding community support for the iconic Metro Theatre - Kings Cross at 28-30 Orwell Street, Potts Point, to be restored as a live theatre or cultural facility;

(ii)        the luxurious Art Deco style theatre and offices were originally built in 1939 as a live entertainment complex called the Minerva;

(iii)      the building was bought and renamed The Metro Kings Cross in 1948 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and converted into a cinema in 1952;

(iv)      after MGM was bought out by Greater Union Organisation in 1969, Harry M. Miller staged the musical Hair at the theatre and it returned to live theatre use until 1976;

(v)       it was converted into a short-lived shopping centre in 1981 before being acquired in 1982 for use as a film studio by Kennedy Miller Mitchell;

(vi)      The Metro is a building with unique architectural heritage, cultural and historic significance to both the local community and Sydney as a whole; and

(vii)     in March 2019 Abacus Property Group purchased the building for $19.8 million; and

(B)      Council reaffirm its commitment to exploring and assisting with any viable proposal for the restoration, use and ongoing operations of the Metro as a live theatre or other cultural facility.

A show of hands on the amendment resulted in an equality of voting as follows –

Ayes (5)          The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Kok, Miller, Scully and Thalis

Noes (5)          Councillors Chung, Forster, Phelps, Scott and Vithoulkas.

The Lord Mayor exercised her casting vote in favour of the amendment. The amendment was declared carried.

The substantive motion was carried on the following show of hands –

Ayes (8)          The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Chung, Kok, Miller, Scott, Scully, Thalis and Vithoulkas

Noes (2)          Councillors Forster and Phelps.

Motion carried.

S129260