Marian Street Theatre is an important cultural and heritage community facilities and is on the agenda for the upcoming Council meeting on Tuesday 16 June 2026.

Marian Street Theatre, 2–2A Marian Street, Killara is owned by Ku-ring-gai Council.

Gordon Ward Cr Barbara Ward is moving Notice of Motion, that if approved, would reverse a decade of work that has already involved $1.9 million. Cr Ward’s motion, if approved, would extinguish an approved Development Application (DA) for the redevelopment of the Marian Street Theatre.

FOKE asks that you:

• Speak, in person or online, at the Public Forum on Tuesday 9 June. You need to register HERE by 5pm Monday 8 June
• Email councillors@krg.nsw.gov.au before Council meets on Tuesday 16 June 2026
• Attend to watch Public Forum or Council meeting at Ku-ring-gai Council Chambers (or online)

Ku-ring-gai Council Agenda for Tuesday 16 June 2026 7pm HERE

Date	Meeting name	Agenda
16 Jun 2026 7:00 PM	Ordinary Meeting of Council	Agenda (web) Agenda (PDF 211.3MB)

Ku-ring-gai Council has spent over $1.9 million on financial/technical feasibility studies, theatre specialist and architects  to develop plans for upgrading Marian Street Theatre to a multi-use community performance.

A DA was approved in 2000 but will lapse in August 2026 unless some works commence. Cr Ward’s motion will stymy the approved development application and encourage investigation elsewhere for construction of performing arts facilities.

What we want:

• Deliver Ku-ring-gai the theatre and cultural space it has been promised.The Marian Street Theatre has been closed since 2013.
• In 2018, Council resolved to commit to reopening the Theatre and included funding in its Long Term Financial Plan. Since then, more than $1.9 million has been spent on investigations, design, and planning, culminating in a Development Application approved in August 2021.

Keep the Marian Street Theatre DA alive.

Support the existing approval.

Points to assist:

• Ku-ring-gai cannot afford to lose years of work and substantial public investment.
• Councillors should vote against Notice of Motion 2 and keep the approved DA alive so this long-promised cultural facility can be restored for the community.
• The existing approved DA keeps State and Federal funding options open.
• Restarting the approval process would waste more time and public money.
• Delays will only increase costs because of inflation and rising construction expenses.
• There is a demand in the community supporting  the restoration and reopening of Marian Street Theatre.
• Allowing the DA to lapse creates a real risk the site could be sold off for high-rise development instead of being revived for public benefit .
• Allocation of funding for a cultural facility (in the last term of council over $40 million has been allocated to new Sporting facilities, nothing for new cultural facilities).

Protect the investment already made.

Lock in a budget for Marian Street Theatre.

This is a building of significant heritage and cultural value to Ku-ring-gai. Built in 1906 as a community hall, it was later dedicated as a Soldiers’ Memorial Hall after World War I, serving as both a tribute to returned servicemen and a central community gathering place. From 1966, it became a major cultural venue on the North Shore, hosting renowned Australian performers including Jacki Weaver, Georgie Parker and Ruth Cracknell, and later housing the Marian Street Theatre for Young People.

A Notice of Motion to be considered by Council, put forward by Councillor Barbara Ward, proposes halting further action on the approved DA while Council undertakes broader studies into alternative cultural facilities across the LGA. This would effectively allow the current DA to lapse.

Council’s Business Papers indicate a cost of up to $500,000 per year to maintain the DA, though it is understood the actual cost may be significantly lower.

A Notice of Motion put forward by Gordon Ward Councillor, Cr Barbara Ward, that proposes to STOP further action on the approved DA while Council undertakes broader studies into alternative cultural facilities across the LGA. This would effectively allow the current DA to lapse.

Will Ku-ring-gai Councillors vote to safeguard the substantial investment in the Marian Street Theatre and restore this important community and cultural asset for future generations? Or will it defer the DA means that the site continues to be neglected and creates the real risk that this valuable public asset could ultimately be sold off and lost to the community forever?

Points to assist:

• ALL Councillors should vote against the Notice of Motion 2 that proposes the Marian Street Theatre DA to lapse. We cannot afford to lose years of work and substantial public investment.
• the the Marian Street Theatre DA needs to be kept ALIVE to ensure this long-promised cultural facility is restored back to the community.  Ku-ring-gai urgently needs to have its own theatre and arts and cultural space.
• Support the existing approved DA.  This will keep funding options open.  It will allow Council to seek State and Federal grants to complete this valuable community and cultural facility.
• Ku-ring-gai Council should not squander any further time and public resources by restarting the Marian Street approval process from scratch.
• Maintaining the approved DA is a cost-effective option that preserves years of work and keeps future opportunities open.
• Delays means increasing the FINAL cost of reopening the Marian Street Theatre will INCREASE due to inflation and rising construction expenses.
• The community has demonstrated long-standing support for the restoration and reopening of Marian Street Theatre. Support the existing DA process.
• Allowing the DA to lapse opens the real risk that the Marian Street Theatre that is withing the Killara Transport Oriented Development (TOD) to be sold off for high rise, rather than revitalised for the public benefit.

Marian Street Theatre

The history of Marian Street Theatre

The Marian Street Theatre is located in Killara and has a long history since its construction as a community hall in 1906. Following its development as a theatre in 1965, it played a significant role in the area’s cultural life as a staple of the North Shore theatre scene. It is fondly remembered by former patrons and theatre lovers across Sydney.

When Northside Theatre Company ceased trading in 2001, the Marian Street Theatre for Young People occupied the building, presenting plays and providing theatre tuition for young people. Ku-ring-gai Council continues to be a strong supporter of the Marian Street Theatre for Young People, providing annual grant funding and other support. 

Marian Street Theatre was closed due to public safety concerns in December 2013.

In 2018 Council resolved to undertake renewal of the theatre and to allocate funds to the project in Council’s Long Term Financial Plan. Council staff have since carried out investigation into the state of the building followed by design work and the development application to reopen the building. The DA was approved in August 2021.   

The vision for the new theatre

The renovated MST will focus on building a vibrant, multi-use arts venue with a strong focus on drama. The vision is set out below:

“MST will be Ku-ring-gai’s innovative new community performance space. It will provide a stage for a diverse range of expressive entertainers, from professional artists to talented community performers, who will deliver a program of stimulating and engaging productions for the community.

As well as a theatre experience visitors will enjoy café facilities and multi-purpose spaces, all connecting sensitively with the surrounding natural environment. MST will honour its live theatrical traditions.

The focus will be on content diversity, which will include live performances, musical experiences and new productions. Our goal will be promoting creativity, originality and inclusivity for anyone who enjoys the delight of great live performances.”

The project vision is further emphasised as:

“The new image for a ‘theatre’ is that of a community living room – a place that is open as needed and always active – with informal programming, a variety of live performance genre, and an atmosphere that is buzzing and welcoming. New spaces have enlarged lobbies where high quality drinks and snacks are available for sale over longer periods of time. These spaces are informal but physically attractive and inclusive in the ways they are designed and animated. They are warm and inspirational – welcoming a variety of live performance media and diverse audiences – rather than one-dimensional, cold and institutional, thereby inviting the community to interact.”

Key components

Multiple rehearsal and performance spaces have been carefully selected to build a ‘theatre eco-system’. These are:

• a main theatre auditorium space with 249 seats;
• a smaller experimental theatrette space with 63 seats;
• an acoustically resonant rehearsal space with 60 seats on flat floor;
• a flexible community space;
• a commercial cafe;
• a main foyer space with connection to the main auditorium; and
• an outdoor amphitheatre, which connects the cafe through to the park and existing children’s playground.
  
  

Community consultation

Consultation with the community and theatre experts has occurred on numerous occasions with regard to the future of live theatre in Ku-ring-gai. 

Specific to this project, Council established a Marian Street Theatre Committee Reference Group. The reference group consisted of Councillors, members of the Save Marian Street Theatre Committee, theatre and arts cultural specialists, and members of the community. This committee had a role in informing the direction and outcomes of the rejuvenated theatre. 

An event day was also held in Selkirk Park on Sunday 17 November 2019 to inform the broader community of progress and design of the project.

Further community consultation was undertaken as part of due process through public notification of the DA.

Updates

The current DA remains active until late August 2026.
A modification application has been submitted for some internal works.
The link to the application is: DA Tracker – 2 Marian St, Killara

At the OMC of 12 December 2023, Notice of Motion NM.1/1 (S10577/5) by Councillors Lennon and Ward was put for consideration by Council. This NoM was deferred for consideration to the OMC on 20 February 2024, where it was adopted.

The NoM calls for a report to Council on the costs of the minimum repairs, maintenance, and other work necessary to re-open the Marian Street Theatre as a functional theatre in the form it was before closing, complying with current building code requirements.

At the OMC of 16 July 2024, a report was presented to Council – Marian Street Theatre Killara – Building condition.

The purpose of this report was to advise Council on the costs of the minimum repairs, maintenance, and other necessary works to re-open the Marian Street Theatre as a functional theatre in the form it was before closing, complying with current building code requirements.

Based on the preliminary inspections, it is considered that the existing condition of the Marian Street Theatre requires rectifications and major upgrades across its structure, fire safety systems, access and egress, electrical systems, plumbing and drainage systems and building code compliance generally, for it to be in a condition to operate in the future.

On consideration of the matter, Council resolved:

1. Council notes the Hydromedial Consulting Group Feasibility Report for Marian Street Theatre included in the papers for the July 2024 ordinary council meeting, which suggested a range of approximately $7 million to approximately $15 million for the likely costs of a minimalist re-opening of the Marian Street Theatre.
2. Council affirms Council’s support for Development Application DA 0144/20.
3. Council notes that Development Application DA 0144/20 requires substantial commencement by 19th August 2026 to remain valid.
4. Staff report to Council on the likely costs and timetable to redevelop the Marian Street Theatre in accordance with Development Application DA 0144/20 and the actions to be taken to achieve substantial commencement by 19th August 2026 in order to preserve the development consent.
   
   

Council staff are currently preparing a report on resolution # 4 which will be presented to the OMC later in 2024.

Enquiries

9420 4488 or info@mstyp.org.au.

Find out about Marian Street Theatre for Young People’s classes.

From Ku-ring-gai Council website