Page 22 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

Lawrence

Brothers

Talkies

Lawrence Bros. built the
largest touring circuit in
Gippsland. Their reach
extended to Melbourne
metropolitan and other
country locations. The
locations listed in Gippsland
were on one of their three
circuits at some time between
the thirties to the early fifties.
In addition Lawrence Bros.
operated some permanent
cinemas. The Gippsland
circuits were based on
Pakenham. The Head Office
of Lawrence Brothers Talkies
was in Kew.

Eastern Victoria Circuit
Locations:
Benambra, Boolara, Briagalong,
Bruthen, Cowwarr, Cranbourne,
Drouin, Erica, Flinders, Foster, Fish
Creek, Gormandale,Heyfield,
Inverloch, Kongwak, Lang lang,
Loch, Lower Tarwin, Meeniyan,
Neerim South, Newry, Noojee,
Omeo, Poowong, Powell Town,
Rosedale, Tanjil Bren, Thorpdale,
Toora, Walhalla, Welshpool,
Yallourn (open cut mine.)
Other Circuit Locations
Barwon Heads, Hastings,
Melton, Somerville, Queenscliff.
Permanent Cinemas
Berwick (converted hall),
Korrumburra, Moe (Civic),
Mornington (Plaza), Pakenham
(converted hall), Traralgon (Valley).
The Valley Traralgon was the
Lawrence Bros. flagship theatre.
They managed it until 1973. The
theatre operated under other
management until 1978. Its closure
marked the end of the Lawrence
Bros. era in cinema.
A sample of venues (top to bottom) – Meeniyan Hall, Lower Tarwin Hall,
Rosedale Mechanics Institute

22 2002 CINEMARECORD