Page 12 - CR

“Located at the junction of Stud
and Wellington Roads, Rowville – four
miles on the city side of Dandenong –
the theatre is surrounded only by a few
farmhouses, sheep, cattle and a stud
farm.
From the top of the 80ft-tall screen
tower you can look down on as
attractive a bushland scene as could be
imagined.
The drive-in nestles comfortably in
a shallow fold of undulating field.
Around it rises hills and mountains
covered with trees and dotted here and
there by neat patches of ploughed land.
If you suffer from claustrophobia at
your local cinema, this is the place for Above: Bob, Joe, Jack and Dick Finn, rugged up for the big night in July 1956
you.”
The article also mentioned that the as more and more homes were
Rowville Drive-In would be the first to equipped with colour TVs and video
have an espresso bar which was players.
expected to be “a huge success with The land’s zoning was converted to
Melbourne people who have taken to residential and is now occupied by
espresso coffee in a big way.” housing along Streeton Court, Heyson
Stewart Finn managed the Drive-In Close and the northern section of
during its first six years until he went to Sunshine Street.
Echuca to take up a teaching career. The only reminder of the Drive-In
As anticipated by the directors the Theatre at Rowville is a single poplar
Drive-In did survive the early television tree to the south of the Baton Rouge
era but eventually succumbed in 1983 Motel. A row of these tall trees once
flanked the back of the giant screen.

12 2010 CINEMARECORD