Page 18 - CinemaRecord #79

1997.

New auditorium in 1996.

To circumvent the threat of a proposed opposition The modern Metro 5 was offered for sale in
complex being built in town, the Company later 2009 and was quickly purchased by Box Office
purchased the property next door and a fifth Promotions who then transferred their operations
screen was then constructed at the rear of that from the out-dated Australia to the near new
area. This opened in April 2006 and was linked to Metro, reopening it in December 2009 as the
the main building by means of covered laneway renamed Odeon 5 Cinemas.
between the buildings.
The former Australia building stands empty and
After many years of retail use, the Strand was forlorn. A sign on the door (6 June 2013) states it
converted into offices and today the whole is to become the temporary home of the Orange
building has been taken over by the Salvation Evangelical Church whilst they raise fund to
Army for a shop and warehouse. build their own premises. Flytower from lane.

The Coronet was converted into a nightclub and Hooray! Yet another theatre saved by religion –
later a medical imaging office and retail shops, at least for the time being. After that, the future
and is today unrecognizable as a cinema. of this long-serving cinema stalwart is a lot less
secure.
The threatened new cinema complex eventually Just like the matinee serials of old, only time
came to fruition, when the Metro 5 opened in will tell what the next chapter will hold for the
William Street in November 2003 resulting in a Australia – Theatre Beautiful.
ticket price war with the Australia.
With both locations showing the same movies at
heavily discounted prices, the price war proved Acknowledgements:
to be too much for the $5.5 million Metro Ross Maroney, Ian Hanson and Les Tod. Additional
5 resulting in provisional liquidation and its photos and information from Kevin Adams.
complete and sudden closure in December 2008.
Sitting idle and empty in 2013.

Metro in 2003.

18 2013 CINEM AREC ORD