Royal Wanganui Opera House

Although the construction of an opera house at Whanganui was first suggested in 1883, it was not until 1899 that the idea was brought to fruition as a tribute to Queen Vistoria. The opera house is built upon a splendid Tuscan design that was created by the architect George Stevenson. Although the ill-fated architect passed away soon after his design was approved, his vision was nonetheless brought to life by Nicholas Meuli who donated his services to the cause. The beautiful Victorian theater has retained much of its original charm, although it has been brought up to date so as to better accommodate the needs of modern-day events. The theater offers a varied program of concerts, operas, theater and dance, featuring local performers alongside touring acts. The historic theater is also available for use as a venue for meetings, lectures, weddings and just about any event that calls for auditorium-style seating.