1999-2023
RMIT Saves The Capitol
In 1999, RMIT purchased The Capitol to provide a lecture theatre for its business school. However, since the school was prepared to refurbish the cinema, the financial matter shelved the plan.
The Capitol had been left desolate for a decade. The ancient chairs and projector, the prevailing television and multiplexes made it backwards from its former glory. In 2014, the cinema had eventually closed for renovation. Meanwhile, RMIT sought more funds from the public.
"Retain Its Cinematic Heritage And Take A Leap Beyond."
Luckily, with the rise of art-based culture in Melbourne, the outside world noticed this heritage. RMIT soon collected enough fund-raising and refurbished The Capitol. Assuring safety standards and introducing advanced equipment, it was the first extensive renovation to improve the Capitol, rather than downsize it. Significantly, the renovation maintained the iconic original design features. Peter Malatt, the lead architect of Six Degrees claims that “about 80 percent of the building was still there in some form.”
“It was about getting that to sing as much as possible,
and to bring in beneath that later of 21st century functionality.”
Old Media
Meets
New Media
In mid-2019, the Capitol finally reopened. In addition to the cultural events, film festivals and live performances that still take place, the Capitol also becomes a place for an innovative learning experience, a connection for RMIT students to contact the screen industry. It doesn't belong only to culture and arts, but education as well.
Now, the theatre uses for lectures, tutorials, screenings of students’ works during the day; and film festivals, movies, and other educational and public events for the evening. RMIT saves the Capitol, and in turn both restores it to former beauty, whilst preserving it for future generations.
Professor Lisa French shares her role on The Capitol Theatre Reactivation Project Control Group
and the RMIT restoration
Just like David Puttnam predicted,
“The reactivation of the RMIT Capitol Theatre will be the recreation of something quite extraordinary, a magnificent building, which at the same time will become a wondering learning resource, for the students at RMIT, and for people who live and work in Melbourne.”