STANDING three storeys high and seating 850 people, Goulburn's Theatre Royal would have rivalled the best in any rural centre.
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But the building, designed by architects McKinnon and Weitzel Goulburn & Sydney in 1891, was never constructed.
Sifting through Historical Society archives, keen local researcher Linda Cooper was fascinated to find plans for the theatre.
The grand structure was to be built next to the London Chartered Bank on the northwestern corner of Auburn and Montague streets (the current ANZ site).
The architects had offices in the bank building, an imposing structure in itself. Plans show three drawings of the theatre.
Mrs Cooper also discovered an April 24, 1891 Goulburn Herald article describing 'the proposed Theatre Royal'.
"The design shows a three-storeyed building built in brick and cement and of the classical style," the article states.
"At either end of the front of the building two shops have been provided. The stalls and dress circle entrances will be from Montague St while the gallery will be approached by a staircase opening on the right-of-way adjoining."
The auditorium was to be 45ft x 46ft and the stage, 30ft x 45ft. There was "ample accommodation" for dressing rooms, scene dock and "property rooms".
"There will be a dress-circle with a gallery above and stalls on the ground floor, which has an incline towards the stage, whilst the orchestra floor is sunk below that of the stalls," the article stated.
The facade, with its classical-style windows, columns and carvings, was to stand 55ft tall.
And in case anyone was worried about exiting at the end of a show, the theatre had ample egresses to "empty the building in three minutes".
"The general design is very handsome and the building would form an additional ornament to the city," the article stated. "We understand it is the intention of the promoters to form the concern into a joint-stock company."
Mrs Cooper said she hadn't been able to find out yet why the venture never went ahead, but she believed it would have been grand, with seating for so many.
Mrs Cooper has also extensively researched architect EC Manfred and Sons' plans. She discovered recently that EC's son, HC, drew up plans for a performance venue at the Old Town Hall (now the McDermott Centre) in the 1930s. These didn't proceed either, possibly due to cost, Mrs Cooper speculated.
