At 133 years old, The Princess Theatre proudly holds the title of Queensland’s oldest standing theatre. This heritage-listed building, which first opened its doors in 1888, has a storied past, having served as a picture theatre, rag merchant, secondhand dealer, paper wholesaler, engineering firm, and, more recently, a church.

In 2021, the iconic Princess Theatre reopened after meticulous restorations led by Steve Sleswick, Dave Sleswick, Simon Waide (owners of The Tivoli), and prominent Brisbane businessman Steve Wilson. Faithfully restored to its former glory, the theatre now boasts a state-of-the-art performance auditorium, with a standing capacity of 900 and a seated theatre capacity of 500. Visitors can also enjoy four bars, a public café, private event spaces, a rehearsal room, and a charming outdoor courtyard.

With a rich history of survival against the odds, The Princess Theatre has weathered floods, economic depressions, changing consumer tastes, and even the threat of air attacks. It narrowly avoided several fires and survived redevelopment proposals that could have erased its legacy. Today, rejuvenated by a sympathetic renovation, it stands ready for its next chapter.

Originally located on lands where the Turrbal people lived, hunted, and held ceremonial activities, the area around the Princess Theatre has a deep connection to Indigenous history. The Vulture Street rise and Mater Hill were once part of the Turrbal clans' territory, with a major bora ground for initiation ceremonies located on Merton Road, just behind the theatre.

Over the years, Woolloongabba, once a “frontier settlement” of hotels, brothels, and wharves, evolved into a thriving area, with tramways, railways, and retail businesses spreading along Stanley Street. By 1887, South Brisbane and Woolloongabba were officially excised from greater Brisbane to form the Municipality of South Brisbane, marking the growth of this vibrant district.

8 Annerley Rd, Woolloongabba QLD 4102