Heritage Victoria approved the Pynsent Street building, which houses Horsham Centre Cinemas, in late November.

A Victorian Heritage Register report outlines the theatre's historical and architectural significance to Victoria:

"The Horsham Theatre is of historical significance as one of the earliest surviving and largest purpose-built cinemas in rural Victoria.

"It is rare for its combined cinema and live performance functions and for retaining a pair of 1950s projectors.

"The Horsham Theatre is of architectural significance as an outstanding example of the work of Bohringer, Taylor and Johnson, one of the most important and prolific cinema architectural firms in Australia.

"It is the best surviving example of their work in rural Victoria. This firm designed the Forum and Rapallo cinemas, former State Theatre, Melbourne, in 1928 in conjunction with the American cinema architect John Eberson and Ron Taylor, who designed the Astor, St Kilda, in 1936."

Heritage Victoria executive director Jim Gardner said the Horsham Theatre, designed in a subdued version of the neo- Classical revival style and built in 1926, was designed for cinema and live performances.

"It was one of the last to incorporate a stage with full fly facilities for drama and vaudeville," he said.