Page 34 - untitled

92. LORNE THEATRE - LORNE VICTORIA by Gerry Kennedy

Lorne is 140 kilometres southwest of Melbourne and is The shop on the left of the entrance was once a milk bar
one of Victoria's most popular and prestigious seaside re- and theatre patrons could also be served via a hatch built
sort and conference centre. It is the biggest town on the in the wall between the shop and the foyer. The foyer ceil-
famous Great Ocean Road. ing has been lined with an attractively patterned pressed
metal.
A syndicate. including Messrs. Jarrett, Stirling and
Anderson built the theatre [I]. It is located at 80 Mountjoy
Road, ar the corner of Grove Road, and is an attractive and
well-maintained example of an an deco moderne theatre.

It was buill to supersede an old iron hall. which was lo-
cated almost opposite the new theatre, on the foreshore re-
serve. It was built as a cinema and has a very small stage
area.

From c. l914 films were shown in the beach hall which
seared 350 f2]. The syndicate members and a Mr. Dorman
took over the screening operations at the ball from a trav-
elling showman. On the opening of the new theatre in
November 1937 some of the equipment was relocated from
the hall including the projectors. Foyer, Entrance and Staircase

One of the original projectors used in the theatre is cur- Also on the right hand side of the foyer is a staircase which
rently on exhibition in the theatre foyer. lt is a C&W with leads directly into the stadium styled auditorium at the right
a Hanlilton & Baker lamp bouse and is fitted with an RCA hand end of the circle cross aisle.
sound head.
There are many well preserved moderne features in the
building including the terrazzo foyer tloors, the foyer stair-
case and the geometric lines of the ceiling, and the splay
walls leading to the stage. Even the 1950's rectangular pro-
scenium is in keeping with the period look of the audito-
rium. Parts of the original shell shaped proscenium are still
to be found behind the cun·elll structure.

The original auditorium ceiling is lined with a caneite type
of material with the 1950"s alterations being of plaster. The
original opaline ceiling lights are still used.

Lome Theatre 1999

The theatre was built in reinforced concrete on a site that
was cut into a steep hill. To cope with the site constraints
seven steps must be negotiated to get from the street to
foyer level. Shops were included in the construction (left
and right of the main entrance).

Six bevelled glass doors form the entrance to the theatre.
Both the entry steps and the foyer t1oors are finished in
terrazzo. A ticket box is built into the back wall of the
foyer. Proscenium c.l999

Entrance to the stalls was originally via doorways located Muted green tonings. have been used throughout the thea-
at the left and right ends of the foyer. As an office, and a tre including the walll. stage curtains and most of the seats.
candy bar I ticket counter are now located on the left of the The theatre seating capacity was listed at 685 [3] but has
foyer the only entry to the stalls is on the right side. gradually been reduced to its current level of 560.

- 34 -