Newcastle's Victoria Theatre among NSW heritage sites to secure funding

The NSW Government has awarded a record $8.65 million to 140 grant recipients to boost the protection and restoration of heritage sites across the state, under the 2025-27 NSW Heritage Grants Program.

The NSW Government has increased the total investment by $2.65 million from the previous round, to recognise the importance of preserving and celebrating heritage for generations to come. 

These new grants will deliver huge wins for heritage conservation across the state, with 103 awarded in regional NSW and 37 in Sydney – boosting community access and engagement with heritage across all of NSW.

Two projects have received a major Activating State Heritage Grant worth $1 million each to bring a state significant site to life, allowing people to connect more deeply with heritage. They’re the largest grants ever awarded under this decades-long grant program.

These grants will see the Newcastle Post Office and Victoria Theatre revitalised to enable these iconic heritage-listed sites to re-open their doors to the public, reinstating them as cornerstone attractions in Newcastle.

The Victoria Theatre is a significant state heritage site located in the heart of Newcastle which represents an era of silent pictures, vaudeville, and early legitimate theatre. Despite some alterations, its 1891 façade and dual-era auditorium remain largely intact. Built in 1881 on Perkins Street in Newcastle it is the oldest heritage theatre in New South Wales and fifth oldest in Australia.

Other NSW Government grant recipients include everything from hotels, museums, churches and town halls to parks, cemeteries and cultural landmarks, across three grant categories.

Caring for State Heritage Grants
$4.23 million has been invested in 44 heritage projects, including the 19th century Bushranger Hotel at Goulburn, Wollongong’s North Beach Kiosk, Maitland’s Town Hall and Sydney’s History House, to ensure they are safeguarded for future generations.

They also include the 150-year-old iconic Toganmain Woolshed, the largest remaining woolshed in the Riverina region. Conservation works will help protect the building’s integrity including restoring the shearers’ quarters with the original chimneys, ovens and hearths.

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Grants
Nearly $200,000 has been shared between Aboriginal Places at Brungle Cemetery, St Clair Mission Church School, Cooroboree Ground, Beemunnel Reserve, Birubi Point and Collingwood Parklands. This will ensure their cultural significance is respected and maintained.

For example, the seating and viewing area at Birubi Point Aboriginal Place will be restored, providing visitor amenity away from culturally and environmentally sensitive areas.

Local Government Heritage Grants
$2.225 million will enable 89 Councils to identify and protect places and stories that define their character. Each Council will receive $25,000 to fund heritage initiatives at the local level.

For the complete list of the successful grant recipients and their projects, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding.

Image. Activating State Heritage Grant recipient - Next Century Development Ltd for Victoria Theatre, Newcastle. CGI of revived Victoria Theatre. Image courtesy SC Studio