The Victoria Theatre on Hunter Street is the oldest remaining theatre in New South Wales, a Victorian-era building that has been in continuous use since 1891. The ornate facade, with its terracotta details and arched windows, is one of the more striking examples of late colonial commercial architecture in the city. The interior retains its original balcony and stage configuration, though the fit-out has been updated many times.
The theatre is a working venue — it hosts concerts, comedy, and live performances throughout the year. Worth checking the program if you are in Newcastle for more than a day; local promoters use it regularly. The building's survival through the demolitions and redevelopments of the past century is something of a minor miracle in a city that has lost a good deal of its Victorian heritage.