Burton Street Tabernacle
The Tabernacle building on Burton Street
The City of Sydney is transforming the Burton Street Tabernacle on the corner of Burton and Palmer Streets, Darlinghurst into “Eternity Playhouse”, a 200-seat theatre and creative arts centre with a gallery, bar and café.
Work started at the end of 2011 and includes:
- Developing the basement level into a theatre box office, café & bar and public facilities
- Preserving heritage features while making the building more sustainable through energy efficient lighting, solar roofing, and rainwater collection and reuse
- Creating a new backstage area, dressing rooms, performers facilities and offices
- Installing new stairs, lift and foyer to improve accessibility
The Tabernacle is earmarked to become the new home of a local community theatre and host a range of performances, classes, exhibitions and events. This important project is part of our plans to develop the Oxford Street Cultural Quarter which will support artists and designers to develop their practices.
Once completed, the theatre will be leased to the Darlinghurst Theatre Company, a community organisation embracing and nurturing emerging artists, including people who are homeless.
Arthur Stace’s famous phrase
Eternity Playhouse
The Tabernacle was reportedly the source of inspiration for Arthur Stace, who famously scribed ‘Eternity’ on Sydney streets and landmark buildings over a period of 35 years.
Council resolved to rename the Tabernacle “Eternity Playhouse” at its meeting on 5 December 2011. The story of Arthur Stace chalking “Eternity” in Sydney streets is well loved, and the image of his script is iconic. It was hugely popular when used on the Harbour Bridge during for the New Year’s Eve celebrations in 1999.
Replicating the script in signs for the new theatre will look stunning and mark the building’s adaptive reuse as a state-of-the-art theatre and new cultural destination for Sydney.
Eternity Playhouse artist impression
History and timeline of works
The Burton Street Tabernacle is a special building to many Sydney-siders. It is a two storey Victorian Free Classical style church built in 1887 and was a Baptist church from 1887 to 1996.
In 2004 when the City purchased the building, it was in a state of disrepair. Community consultation in 2007 revealed that residents and business owners in the area were keen for more cultural and community facilities, so the City began planning for an exciting new venue.
In 2008, we undertook significant work which included repairing the roof structure and laying a new roof made from Welsh slate; restoring the original decorative timber ceiling (which was uncovered during the works); and sewer works, re-pointing of brickwork and general repairs.
The City’s restoration plans and Development Application were on public exhibition throughout September/October 2010.
The designs for the full restoration (by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects) were presented to the City's Design Advisory Panel in June 2010 and received positive endorsement.
Major construction work started in late 2011 and is expected to take 16 months.
Further information
For more information please contact:
Samantha Carroll
Project Manager
Tel: 02 9265 9333
Email: scarroll@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Last Updated: Monday 23 April, 2012
