Building firm Fairbrother Pty Ltd collected the gong at the MBA of Victoria’s recent Regional Building Awards for their work on the $8.9 million project.

The theatre redevelopment won in the category for Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings over $6 million. 

Fairbrother project manager Billy Edis said the company was extremely proud of the award.

“The Master Builder’s awards are considered one of the pinnacle awards of our industry,” Mr Edis said. 

“It is a great compliment to Fairbrother and the Warrnambool City Council.”

The redevelopment, designed by William Ross Architects, took 14 months to complete and included the addition of the Lighthouse Studio, which revamped the old Civic Hall room into a 140-seat theatre for intimate performances while doubling as a function room.

The project also upgraded the main auditorium, facade, bar, administration area, amenities and load-in area, as well as improving access for the disabled.

The theatre’s light and sound systems were also upgraded.

It was the latest in a series of facelifts for the building, which began as the Warrnambool Town Hall in 1891.

Municipal chambers and offices were added in 1924 but the hall was eventually declared unsafe in 1977, with previously mooted redevelopments continually stalling and suffering setbacks.

With state government funding the hall was eventually repaired and revamped to become the $2.2 million Warrnambool Regional Performing Arts Centre, which officially opened in March 1983.

In 2003, the complex was renamed the Warrnambool Entertainment Centre before being rebranded as the Lighthouse Theatre in its latest incarnation.