OWNER Minas Coroneo says he wants Scone's highly-valued Civic Theatre to serve as a multi-function centre.
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The theatre is currently being restored to its former glory, with repair and painting of the façade and replacement of the neon lights coming under the initial phase.
Professor Coroneo said it was a lengthy project but he planned to use the heritage-listed site for a number of functions such as conventions, weddings, and live entertainment.
"The business plan is to get people up to Scone on a train and have them attend conventions, watch a themed movie, go out and do some touristy things, and then they can head home on Sunday afternoon," he said.
"It'd really boost visitors to the town and help local businesses."
While admitting that the theatre had taken longer to renovate than first imagined, Professor Coroneo said he was determined to get it completed as quickly as possible.
"It's had minimal amounts of work done on it and I'm trying to fix that," he said.
"We put in a grant application for some heritage funds and it was nowhere near what the cost of it will end up being, but every little bit helps.
"I'm not looking to make anything from it, I just want the theatre to support itself.
"I remain very determined to get it up and running."
The theatre has been in the Coroneo family's interests since 1944.
It is a building steeped in the history of Scone after being built by the community, with business house owners, landholders, and members of the public sourcing about 14,000 pounds to fund the film projection centre.
The gala opening of the Civic Theatre, on July 27, 1938, was a charity function in support of the Scott Memorial Hospital.
