Jones undertook extensive repairs to the theatre in 1931 at great expense and it is concluded that "there may have been an element of civic duty in providing further opportunities for the growing numbers of unemployed to enjoy the escapism of the movies".

[1] In 1933, Herbert Jones came to the rescue of the Balgownie School of Arts Committee which had faced an increasingly difficult time during the Great Depression and re-commenced film screenings in September 1933.

[1] In the early 1940s Jones commenced a regular 16mm picture show in the Miners' Reading Room in Kembla Heights and on Herbert's death in March 1943 his son Maurice continued the screenings until April 1950.

[1] Other innovations and technological advancements introduced by the Jones Family at the Civic Theatre were the installation of a new Western Electric sound system in 1951, the introduction of foreign-language films to the district commencing with La Ronde in 1953 and the VistaVision process in 1954 with a second large screen.

[1] Robert Parkinson concluded "Not least, it (the Civic Theatre) allowed the Jones family to innovate for the benefit of picture goers, a technique that would be developed further at the Regent.

[1] On the Chief Secretary's inquiring about the lack of building progress in late 1938, Jones claimed that industrial, financial and political conditions had prevented work commencing.

"At present I am concerned with an attempt made by Wollongong Theatres Ltd to enter Balgownie in opposition to my existing holding and when this matter is disposed of I will give further consideration to the Keira Street proposition".

[5][1] While war now provided Mr Jones with a good excuse, it seems likely that he had been keeping officialdom at bay in the absence of sufficient finance that the company had failed to raise.

[7][1] The Best style was "characterised by an adventurous and sophisticated use of colour in glazed walls and ceilings, international modernist and Australian furniture, Japanese temple blinds and lights and marimekko cottons and Jim Thompson Thai Silks.

[1] Best's other significant public commissions included The Lobby Restaurant, Canberra and a consultancy on the seating fabrics and outdoor furniture for the Sydney Opera House.

[10][1][8] The 2018 sale fell through; however, in early 2020, it was sold to a local business consortium, with hospitality figure Joe McGuinness and the Yours and Owls production group lodging the relevant applications to reopen the theatre as a live performance venue.

On each side of the auditorium a plaster moulding depicts a mythological scene beneath the gilt rays of a star or sun in the form of a round opalescent glass covering for an electric light which never seems to have been lit.

The brilliant multi-coloured glazing of walls and ceiling was the work of (Lady) Marion Hall Best, acclaimed Australian interior designer, with assistance of Janet Single.

[1] The Regent "reveals many overseas influences including the "atmospheric" theatre type" (Greater Wollongong Heritage Study) It appears to reflect the architectural style of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, 1938/39 by Edward Durrell Stone.

[13][1] The only superficial changes that have occurred are that the awnings neon sign has disappeared, new "fairy" lighting was installed in the ceiling above the street entrance and a fountain has been removed from the foyer (following vandalism) to be replaced by an attractively decorative panel of flora and fauna.

This was a major commission for a public space by one of Australia's leading modernist interior designers, and one of the few intact examples remaining of Best's signature "glazing" paintwork.

The Regent also has local significance for its historical associations with Herbert Wyndham Jones, since it represents the culmination of his entrepreneurial endeavours in cinema management in the Illawarra region.

It is a local manifestation of mid twentieth century Art Deco movie theatre construction in NSW, demonstrating the cultural importance and growth of this form of popular entertainment in this area.

In addition, the Regent Theatre is of high local significance for its historical associations with Herbert Wyndham Jones and his family, including his daughter Rowena Milgrove who managed the cinema for three decades.

The Regent Theatre at Keira Street Wollongong is likely to be of State significance for the rare and outstanding interior design of its foyer and mezzanine areas by Marion Hall Best.

This was a major commission for a public space by one of Australia's leading modernist interior designers, and one of the few intact examples remaining of Best's signature "glazing" paintwork.

With Best working on the interiors with the assistance of her architect niece, Janet Single, the Regent Theatre is further likely to be of State significance as an intact and outstanding example of mid-twentieth century women's design in NSW.

It marks the introduction of wide-screen technology in NSW cinemas and still retains its original orientation and layout[1] The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.