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New Brew

Sweeps Clean

If sharing laughter, romance and
occasional sadness are the principal
reasons for a trip to the cinema, then
the spirit of the Astor theatre in
Mildura is alive and well.
The building, transformed by Mr.
Don Carraza and family, reopened in
2004 as the Mildura Brewery.
CATHS’ roving correspondent is
pleased to report that the changes are
inspired. The building supports several
bars, a restaurant, function rooms and a
small brewery. It may sound
incongruous, but it works.
The brew house vats and bottling
line are at the stage end, beneath a large
screen for video or television events.
The foyer is a food and bar area, and
the former balcony is suitable for
private parties.
Although the entrance doors are
new, the verandah retains its pin lights
and pressed metal underside.
The retention of cinema
detail is deliberate. The
projection room, with
its tell-tale ports, is now
a mini-function room,
complete with mini-bar.
The former Avon
cinema in Christchurch,
New Zealand
underwent a similar
conversion to bars and
bistro, without going
the extra step of
including a boutique
brewery. The Mildura
team says that any
similarity between the
two ventures is
coincidental.
The Astor, in a
prime position
alongside the Grand
Hotel in Langtree Avenue, was an older Above from top:
and smaller rival to Waterman’s (later
The exterior today.
Hoyts) Ozone. Both theatres closed in
the 1970s. ★ View from the front doors.
The foyer and style of the rear
stalls is obvious.
The original Astor stage.
Most of the proscenium ornament has
made way for brewery vats.

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