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Lunar runs first release films on all
screens: both double feature and single
feature family sessions. It is open seven
Left: Director and projectionist David Kilderry with the field 3 DP70 (EL 4000) 35/70
days per week, all year round. On most
Philips Todd-AO projector. Originally in the Avalon Hobart, the two Philips at Lunar are
weekends, outside of daylight saving,
now backed by 5,000 watt Strong xenon arcs. The platter is a Philips Kinoton.
nine features are run each night.
Above: Outdoor eating and viewing at the Lunar Café.
Capacity is now around 1,000 cars,
making it Australia’s largest drive-in.
Field 1 holds over 500 cars, Fields 2
and 3 both hold over 200.
The Go Kart track fell into disrepair
and was covered over in the recent
rebuild of the ramps. The South
Gippsland Highway is about to have a
large additional traffic load when it
becomes one of the main Eastlink
feeder roads, and the new Dandenong
Bypass road, ends just 300 metres from
the Lunar entrance.
The drive-in caters for audiences
from across south-eastern Melbourne in
vehicles ranging from motorbikes to
buses and semi-trailers. Patrons
regularly drive for around 30 minutes to
attend, and tourists arrive from interstate
and overseas on a weekly basis.
The Lunar Café is under the
supervision of experienced chef
Matthew Kilderry.
Many customers choose to sit
outside their vehicles on deck chairs;
others enjoy the seating outside the café
or the lawn areas under the screens.
Business is steady through-out the
year, with the early family sessions
providing a boost outside of the
summer months. Regular dusk-to-dawn
programs and car shows have their
followers.
Today the Lunar Drive-in
Dandenong is the oldest operating site
in Australia. ★
Centre: Field 1 is behind the Lunar café.
Acknowledgments: Above: Almost showtime on field 1. The throw to the screen is 140 metres.
My thanks to Jim Houlahan, Peter
Ricketts and to Jim and Tim Greenwell.

CINEMARECORD 2007 31