Approved» Regent, Hilton-Wintergarden Redevelopment: (40F/158m/Office)

[muntted]

I love it. I really really do.

[bne123]

the original design of the Regent cinema was build in the early of last century by a well-known brisbane designer which i forgot his name with the money of James Mayne. One of the early influential man of Brisbane.
His father, was Patrick Mayne, an early Brisbane settler who was a butcher and purchased many lands in and around Brisbane. Properties can be locate in Queen Street and the Moghill farm now own by UQ. Rumored said that he got these money to buy all these lands was from a murder of a red ceder tree lumberjack.
Anyway, since the Mayne family owned a lot of land, he had tonnes of money from rents and stuff and in 19 something, he bought a land for UQ at St Lucia. Since they had no decedents, the money foundation was given to UQ and All Hallows College.
The Regent theater and the Brisbane Arcade are build from the money of the Mayne's family.
The above information is from a book called "The Mayne Inheritance", it is an interesting read for people who want to know more about the early days of Brisbane. Inside the book also contains photos such as the Great Fire of Queen Street.
I did it last year and had an excursion in the city.

[SoulVision]

Sean inspired me to create more videos...
This ones just a few images put together.

[bris-vegas93]

wow this tower has a lot of potential.

[KJBrissy]

Interesting:

Rush slams Regent demolition
Shannon Molloy | February 21, 2008 - 12:06PM



Australian actor Geoffrey Rush has slammed the proposed demolition of the historic Regent Theatre, warning the Queen Street Mall could soon resemble a "Lego village" unless action was taken to preserve its heritage.

Developers Multiplex and ISPT have proposed closing the Regent and demolishing the rear cinemas to make way for a 38-storey office tower.

Angry locals and heritage activists have created two Facebook groups and a website to protest the plans.

Thousands of locals have pledged their support, and now one of Australia's most celebrated actors has leant his name to the cause.

Mr Rush, star of a string of international film successes - including Shine, for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor - said developers' plans to preserve the Regent's heritage foyer and facade was a "token gesture".

He warned the Queen Street Mall was at risk of losing its "unique splendour" and could soon be mistaken for a Lego village or "some high-fiving idiots' version of their own pea-brained future".

"We must challenge and deny these most venal minds that Queensland too-regularly puts in charge of our city's character," he said.

"We must fight very hard to maintain this building."

The Regent Theatre was built at the end of the 1920s and for decades has entertained patrons, but could soon close its doors to make way for development.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman voiced his opposition to the proposed closure of the Regent, and Labor's Lord Mayoral candidate Greg Rowell started a petition. The Greens also oppose the plan.

Mr Rush said the real damage to the Regent was done in 1978, when the grand auditorium was demolished and replaced with four cinemas.

"...but they left us with a bit of it in tact - how generous, how cunning, how manipulative, (and) how patronising."

He urged Save the Regent campaigners to make their voices heard and labelled the proposed office building a "bland corporate monolith".

Mutliplex last week defended its plan, and said the redevelopment of the Regent would see it given a new purpose.