Description
The Capitol is a 1924 cinema in the heart of Melbourne. One of Melbourne’s original ‘big three’ cinemas, and an architectural icon, the building is an important example of the Griffins’ commercial architectural work and a significant cultural building in Melbourne’s art ‘spine’.
Renowned Australian architect and RMIT alumnus Robin Boyd described it as “the best cinema that was ever built or is ever likely to be built”. It was refurbished and upgraded by RMIT University and Six Degrees Architects in 2019.
The Capitol is also one of the seven sites featured in Take Hold of the Clouds, a curated exhibition for the Weekend that embeds responsive works within Melbourne’s most-loved architectural spaces.
What's On
Tours of the building highlight its history and contemporary functionality. Social history tours led by RMIT Venues Manager Marc Morel run on the Saturday with architectural tours on the Sunday led by Timothy Rodgers from Six Degrees Architects.
Images: (1) Interior of the Capitol Theatre Swanston Street, showing the stage and curtain. Photo: Lyle Fowler circa 1955. (2) Paramount's Capitol Theatre. Photo: Lyle Fowler 1937-39. (3) The Capitol auditorium. Photo: Marc Morel.
Important Details
Time & Date
Open 10am-5pm
Social history tours run 10am, 12.30pm, 3pm
Sunday 31 July
Open 10am-5pm
Architectural tours run 10am, 10.45am, 11.30am
All tours run for 30 minutes in groups of 30 people.
Bookings not required. Tour group capacity is limited and operates on a first come, first in basis.
The Capitol also showcases creative practitioners Forensic Architecture's work Cloud Studies (2021) as one of the seven sites featured in Take Hold of the Clouds. The curated exhibition embeds responsive works within Melbourne's most-loved architectural spaces across the Weekend. More information here.
Age Requirements
Accessibility
Location
113 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
