Page 17 - CinemaRecord #79

In the 1970’s the Century again screened films
regularly. However, this time the upstairs balcony
had been converted into an intimate auditorium
and renamed the Australia Cinema.
This was entered from a wide staircase leading Balcony cinema in 1988.
from the right hand side of the frontage to a small
foyer containing the ticket office/candy bar and
toilets. The former downstairs foyers had been
rented as commercial premises.

As the Australia operated in opposition to
the other Western theatres it often had trouble
obtaining quality product and existed on a
combination of B Grade, R rated and second run
films.
Eventually the Victorian chain, Village Theatres,
took over the operation of both the Coronet and
the Western Drive In. They were then renamed
Village theatres. Ultimately, the older Australia
survived both of those theatres.
In the late 1980’s after many ups and downs New auditorium 1997.
the Australia was taken over by Box Office
Promotions Pty. Ltd. This company was owned All auditoriums were steeply raked and stepped.
by Andrew Ward (of Melbourne’s Dendy Cinema 1 (the original balcony area and intimate
Brighton family), and Graham Irish (from 1970s cinema) seated 180 and Cinema 2 occupied
Sydney). In 1995 the company planned to twin most of the original stalls area.
the Australia, however the interior of the old Cinema 3 and 4, seating 117 and 120, were
building was converted into a four-plex instead. double-decked at right angles to the original
auditorium and located mainly in the former
As the Australia 4 Cinemas, entry was now stage and fly tower area.
through the original downstairs foyer spaces and
a deep extension into the original stalls area. The Cinema 1 retained access to the upstairs foyer 1997.
ticket box/candy counter and managers office space which was used as a function area and
were also included in this spacious area, although remnants of the 1950’s acoustic tile and plaster
the original (unused) ticket boxes were still to ceiling could still be seen in Cinemas 1 & 2.
be found behind poster cases. The building still The four cinemas had the same vertical
retained its 1950’s façade. alternative fabric panels in beige and maroon
with blue seating and carpets.

1996.

CINEM AREC ORD 2013 17