Key buildings selling and sold
• The Lyric Theatre ready for sale.
By Tony Scott,
December 01, 2021
Another landmark of Scottsdale’s King Street is to be put up for auction.
Two weeks after Dorset Council decided to sell the heritage listed old post office, or Scott Centre, the Lyric Theatre has been advertised.
The theatre is similarly listed, but significantly younger, having been completed in 1924.
It has been listed by Launceston-based agency Bushby Property Group and is set for auction on Friday January 21.
Agent Guy Archer said the property was advertised for the first time yesterday.
“The market is as strong as it’s ever been so just what interest or price it might bring we just don’t know.
“We’ve decided to extend the period until the auction to allow parties to talk to the council and authorities about what approvals they might need, allowing for time over the holiday period.
“It could be something of a new challenge for anyone interested.
“You don’t get offered a lot of theatres.”
Mr Archer said the present owners, who live on the North West Coast had decided to sell because they weren’t in a position to do what they had wanted.
The theatre was built to accommodate an audience of 600 and operated mainly as a cinema, but did host some live performances and was the venue of choice for balls during the era of ballroom dancing’s popularity.
The main building of concrete has been re-roofed and it has a modern semi detached office building leased by the Royal Flying Doctors Service, but the interior of the theatre is derelict.
The agents speculate that some future options for its use are retail accommodation or storage.
There is also speculation mounting about the future of the Eco Centre on Scottsdale’s western edge after its sale.
The building was opened in 2002 as a base for Forestry Tasmania, a visitor information centre and café.
It won critical acclaim and a number of awards for its architectural features for designer Robert Morris-Nunn.
Although it cost less to build than a conventional office complex, some of the design initiatives like the central fabric funnel, intended to regulate temperature, didn’t meet all expectations.
It was quickly dubbed the leako centre by those working in it and its stark outside appearance earned other names like the sputnik and the stump.
The exterior was given an overhaul about six years ago to stop the leaks.
It has been on the market since Forestry Tasmania moved out five years ago.
The building has had a couple of temporary tenancies since and until recently operated a café on part of the ground floor.
The centre’s sale is yet to be settled but is said to be unconditional.
It’s understood to have been bought by a local family, who are keeping their plans under wraps.
But they are proposing something that will be good for the North-East and that is needed in Scottsdale.