Walking through the St James today, it still looks stripped back, scarred and silent. But behind the scenes, one of the most significant hurdles in the long-running rebuild has finally been cleared.
Owner Steve Bielby says all asbestos has now been removed from the building, allowing workers to safely return to the site.
"We’ve gone through and removed all of the asbestos in the building. We’ve got those clearances, which means we can bring workers onto site and start the works," he said.
That milestone has been followed by the arrival of tools and equipment, marking the first visible signs of construction activity inside the theatre.
The progress comes after a long and fractured journey for one of Auckland’s most iconic venues. The St James was forced to close following a damaging fire in 2015, with years of delays compounding uncertainty over its future.
A breakthrough came in February this year, when $15 million in funding was confirmed from Auckland Council matching the Crown's historical commitment of $15 million, unlocking the next stage of the project.
And while the space still looks like rubble, major safety upgrades are already in place. The theatre’s original electrical system, dating back to 1928, has now been fully replaced.
"We’ve removed the legacy electrical system and put in a completely new system from scratch, all to mitigate any fire risk," Bielby said.
The focus is now shifting to ensuring the building can endure for decades to come. Bielby says the theatre will undergo base isolation, a seismic upgrade designed to help it withstand major earthquakes.
"We’re essentially putting the building on roller skates, so in an earthquake, the building just sort of wobbles around on top," he explained.
For nearly a century, the St James has played a central role in Auckland’s entertainment scene, hosting global acts including James Brown, Dido, Kanye West, Linkin Park and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.
Heart of Auckland chief executive Viv Beck says its revival is about more than bricks and mortar.
"These are things that are memorable. When you go to places that really strike at your heart, you remember it forever – the feeling of being in there, the atmosphere – that’s what stays with you," she said.
Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick says, "When it comes to the fit out or the use that Aucklanders want to see for the St James Theatre the cool thing is they'll get to have a say on that next year."
Auckland Transport and St James butt heads
As the theatre moves closer to its planned reopening in 2028, a long-running dispute has resurfaced over access and loading on Lorne St.
Auckland Transport has restricted stopping and loading outside the theatre, raising questions over how large touring productions will load in and out once performances resume.
"St James has always loaded off this part of the street," Bielby said. "A loading zone 150m away just doesn’t cut it."
Beck says the issue goes beyond one venue.
"A city has to function well. Servicing and loading are basic requirements if you want a night-time economy that works," she said.
In a statement, Auckland Transport told 1News Lorne St is now designed as a pedestrian-priority area under the City Centre Masterplan, with safety a key consideration. It said temporary loading arrangements may be considered but would need to comply with existing traffic management and safety requirements, adding that no permanent or event-specific loading exemptions have been approved.
Swarbrick says she is hopeful a solution can be found.
"I’m actually really confident that we’ll be able to come to a practical, common sense solution here," she said.
"I don’t think there’s a lack of goodwill – it’s about getting back to the fundamentals of what we’re actually trying to achieve."
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