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Seating plan in 1943. The double seats
The Verne East Malvern are shaded. Fractions are row and seat
numbers ie 6/9 is six rows of 9 seats.

lf and Joss Lawrence re-launched that it was time to move on. The next Waverley opened in 1936; three km
A films in Centenary Hall East tenant was The Australian Playhouse, away and also on Waverley road. The
Malvern on 4 December 1942 and formed in 1947 as an offshoot of the tram route past the Waverley
called it The Verne. The name was a Australian Theatre Movement. Their terminated one km west of the Verne.
word-play on the location. The charter was to foster the work of And the Regent Gardiner was three
building is in Waverley Road, near the Australians in all branches of theatre stations away. The prospect of a walk
intersection with Malvern road. The and provide service men and women to transport on a winter’s night must
original name, boldly painted below an outlet for their theatrical talents have been enough to keep some
the parapet, was a nod to the after the war. The venture was short families at the local. – Ian Smith. ★
significance of the opening year 1934, lived. After a few performances
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
the centenary of the proclamation of Centenary Hall was finished as an Public Records Office/Melbourne
the City of Melbourne. entertainment venue. Archives Centre File 7882P1/930/7934
Centenary Hall was planned and Later tenants included a knitting Mr Ern Bruhn provided much needed
built as a dance hall/picture theatre and factory and a printer. From 1977 to detail about the operation of this
lodge room (the last now apartments 1982 the Centenary Hall Cooperative theatre.
behind the stage area). There is no Ltd managed the hall as a community
record of the first theatre name. centre. It is now a martial arts Centenary Hall /Verne
Perhaps it was simply Centenary academy. 432 Waverley Road
Pictures. The hall was showing films A first floor residence, once
by March 1934 but subsequent events occupied by the owner of the building, Built by: A. Ashmore Innellan
are sketchy. overlooks Waverley Road. Behind the Road Murrumbeena
For Alf Lawrence Ern Bruhn built a residence was the former bio box with Opened: 26 January 1934
ticket box mid-way down the hall in access via a left side staircase mid-way Other Alfred E. Bulluss,
Owners: Nelson Road
the doorway of what had probably along the narrow foyer. Ern Bruhn
been a cloak room. In the hall the seat remembers a tiny balcony, but it is not South Melbourne
layout was eccentric. One of the shown on the 1933 sketch plan and the Mrs. F. Byron,
432 Waverley Road.
conditions of re-opening was that the interior today shows no trace of it.
dual seats (love seats) be replaced with Looking up from inside the hall the Lessees: 1934 – 37 Not Known
singles. (See seat plan.) frames of seven projection and viewing 1937 - 41 Frank Cross
Lawrence Bros. installed C&W ports are obvious on the rear wall. Murrumbeena Road,
projectors brought over from the All vestige of a stage is gone. As Murrumbeena
former Apollo Glenferrie. Screenings the Verne, red curtains were opened 1942 –47
Lawrence Bros. Talkies.
were Friday and Saturday nights with and closed by “sending a boy down to Seating: 400 (1934) to 385
no matinees. Programs were advertised do it.” If the walls had decorative
on billboards around the shopping elements they have been stripped out.
centre. The ceiling is probably the least
The theatre was warmed by a changed. Lath and plaster is relieved
Wunderheat fire box located in an ante by a centre line of circular plaster
room. One night the flue of the heater grilles opening to roof ventilators.
caught fire and filled the hall with The viability of this theatre must
smoke. Lawrence Brothers decided have been challenged as soon as the

CINEMARECORD 2003 23