Page 36 - CinemaRecord #86

BUSSELTON DRIVE-IN

- the end of an era

by Gerry Kennedy

The State of Western Australia can boast communities could have an entertainment shrubs, gardens and lawns. A childrens’ play
having had the largest number of drive-in centre. Some larger rural towns had more than ground is located in front of the screen. The
theatres in Australia. Most of the rural drive- one drive-in theatre; Albany and Geraldton had architect for this drive-in, and others in the
ins were of small capacity and the facilities three drive-ins operating at once. Many of the Jones circuit, was R. M. Neal of Perth.
were minimal. They were often built by local smaller drive ins operated short weeks.
Councils and leased out, so that small The projection room is located above the
The City of Bussellton is on the coast 225 km amenities, snack bar and kitchen area. Unlike
south of Perth. The Busselton Drive-in theatre the usual drive-ins, there was no enclosed
was opened at 500 Bussell Highway on the cafeteria. The snack bar was open sided with
southern side of Busselton at Broadwater. It a U-shaped counter.
was built by the Allan Jones Circuit in 1960.
The drive-in opened with second hand Simplex
The drive-in has been operated by Allan Jones’ projectors, but these were replaced in 1980 by
son Ron for the past 33 years. new Ballantyne projectors with xenon arcs and
6000 ft. spool capacity.
The drive-in site is attractively landscaped
from the edge of the Highway with trees,
The impressive gardens at the front gates of the Busselton Drive-in Theatre

36 CINEMARECORD # 86