The demolition of the former Victory Theatre building that had stood in a dilapidated condition for a decade was finally torn down and its rubble removed on Tuesday for the “safety of the community”.

Seth Love, from the Kopu Ariki of Makea Nui Ariki tribe who are landowners of the site said, “the building had been condemned, and because this is cyclone season, we had it pulled down to keep the community safe.”

The T-shirt factory will stay and continue on with business as usual, he said.

Love would not confirm what the families future plans for the site are.

The building has been vacant for some years, and several businesses have opened and closed their doors at the site, and had served as accommodation premises.

Locally it is popularly known as the Victory Theatre Building owned by the late Willie Brown and before that, the Royal Hall.

As early as 1918, CH. C. Smith wrote ‘Under the Palms’ May 17, 1918 (National Library of New Zealand) about the Rarotonga Imperial Brass band playing at the picture palace.