The theatre, adjoining town hall, Burnie Institute and Public Library were all converted into a large FitzGerald's Department Store by 1978 and completely demolished in 2009.

The Emu Bay Council hired renown Launceston architect Frank Heyward to renovate and expand the premises in 1929.

[3][7][8] The council held a separate tender for the construction of a concrete and steel projection box to best contain the further spread of nitrate film fires.

[10] In spite of considerable industrial growth in Burnie in the 1920s, the Great Depression hit Tasmania particularly hard, seeing 28% of trade unionists without work in 1931.

[22] In 1953, operator R.A. Hamilton founded Star Theatres Pty Ltd and by 1955, the company had formed a monopoly on entertainment venues in Burnie.

[23] The council-owned theatre reverted to the Burnie Theatre namesake and began utilising the space for popular music artists touring throughout the 1960s-70s, including AC/DC, John Farnham, Charlie Pride, Roy Orbison, Winifred Atwell, MPD Ltd, Tony Barber, Peter Doyle, Normie Rowe, Zoot, Jade Hurley, Col Joye and Little Pattie.

The Coastal Players, an acting group containing members from nearly every township along the North Coast performed Stephen Sondheim's musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.