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Lyric Theatre 114 Stephen Street, Melbourne, VIC

The Lyric Theatre in Yarraville, Melbourne, was a prominent early 20th-century entertainment hub located at 114 Stephen Street. It holds a significant place in the historical fabric of the Yarraville Village shopping district before being superseded by newer picture houses.

The site originally began as a local community hall used for civic gatherings.1910s–1920s - The venue was formally converted into a dedicated silent movie and vaudeville theatre, opening its doors around 1917 to 1922. It operated as one of several “Lyric” branded theatres scattered across Melbourne’s suburbs at the time.1930s -The opening of the massive, ultra-modern Sun Theatre across the railway tracks in 1935 outclassed the older venue, drawing cinema-goers away.

Following its closure as a primary cinema, the building served various commercial purposes, operating as a local dance studio (run by a local named Pat) for several decades and later transitioning into a clothing factory.Late 1990s–Present.

The vacant structure was purchased and eventually converted into a modern townhouse complex. During recent property renovations, owners still discovered hidden remnants of the original internal theatrical framing and history. The heritage Edwardian facade has been fully restored and remains a visible piece of streetscape history.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -