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The Village was a handsome, two-
level, 1260 seat cinema in the heart of
Toorak Village. It had been constructed
in 1935 at a cost of 110,000 pounds and
was the last theatre built in Melbourne
prior to WW2.

It was designed by Charles Neville
Hollinshed, a member of the Tait family
and JC Williamson’s “house” architect.
He had been responsible for designing
Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre in
Exhibition Street and also the Metro in
Collins Street.

The ambience of the Village Theatre,
with its use of polished wood and
restrained décor, was strongly
reminiscent of the interior of His
Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne
which Hollinshed had rebuilt
in 1934.

The National paid 45,000 pounds
for the Village, and a further 24,000
pounds for a residential property
in Jackson Street (behind the
theatre). The rear property was to be
demolished as part of the conversion
from cinema to live theatre.

The stage was enlarged, backstage
facilities expanded and a smaller studio
theatre added.

An appeal was launched to raise
additional funds and by the middle of
1961 work was underway. Enquiries
from hirers and plans for National
Theatre seasons commencing in 1963
were almost complete.

30 2011 CINEMAREC ORD