The Manly Town Hall is in the news this week. The local Manly Observer outlines that it is likely private investors would be needed to transform the Manly Town Hall. Northern Beaches Council engaged Hawkridge Entertainment Services to complete a feasibility study for a flexible 350-seat space, 100-seat theatre and 80-seat cinema.

The current conversation centres on inviting private partners to bring new life to an under-used, heritage asset while keeping community benefit at the core. In leading the delivery of the 2023 study, Hawkridge assessed a range of performance and exhibition options. The public summary notes that a multi-use theatre and gallery concept carried high delivery and operating risk with demand not conclusively established, whereas simpler live-music configurations showed stronger economic fundamentals and lower execution risk.

Town halls are beloved, but they are also expensive to adapt and operate. The modelling indicated that a 350-seat flexible theatre with ancillary spaces would require substantial upfront works (acoustics, accessibility, back-of-house, services) and ongoing subsidy unless demand and pricing outperformed benchmarks. By contrast, a leaner music-led model -either a reconfigurable live-music hall or a smaller music hub with cinema – reduced capital complexity, opened up more late-trade program options and improved the revenue mix (ticketing plus food and beverage), while still allowing community-facing uses.

Our work across cultural precincts, live-music venues and civic redevelopments points to a simple conclusion: start with the outcomes, right-size the ambition and match the delivery model to the market you actually have.

Our work

Hawkridge Entertainment Services provides a range of services for organisations including strategic analysis, feasibility development and business case writing. Some of our recent projects are:

• Report on the economic contribution of Music Venues in NSW
• Cronulla Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) Plan
• Warrawong Parklands Commercial and Tourism Assessment
• Campbelltown Arts Centre expansion

Hawkridge Entertainment Services delivers successful outcomes by finding solutions to complex issues. We listen to stakeholders and complete tasks in the timeframes required.

Other similar projects completed by Hawkridge Entertainment Services are available here.