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Researching these buildings was made harder
by the fact that many of the picture shows
were given a more cinematic name. Venues
such as the Lyric in Apollo Bay, Plaza
Talkies in Orbost, Paramount Pictures in Bunyip Mechanics’ Institute. Opened 15 June 1906

Possibly the largest and most impressive
Mechanics' Institute outside of Melbourne to
operate as a picture theatre was in Ballarat.
The three storey building in the City's main
street was completed in 1869 and included an
auditorium which occupied the upper storey
of the first section built in 1860. The hall was
described as being 84 feet long, 47 feet wide,
with a 25 foot ceiling, and would seat 1250. A
stage and gallery were added in 1869. Records
indicate that the hall was first let for film
screening in 1909 to J. C. Langley's British
Bioscope Company.
It screened intermittently until 1919 when it
was let to a syndicate which reopened it as the
Britannia Theatre. It then operated
continually as a cinema until 1981, as the
Britannia until 1958, then as the Odeon until
1965, and finally as the Vegas 70. It seated
“Paramount Pictures” Kyneton (Vic). 800 in 1937 and was still seating 630 in 1970.
In 1994, the hall reopened as the Sturt and
Gisborne and Kyneton, and the Regent in opened in December 1928 and continued spent another ten years as a cinema. Since that
Derrinallum, were all actually Mechanics' screenings until dwindling audiences forced closure the building has undergone an
Institutes. its closure in 1970. This Mechanics’ Institute extensive renovation at a cost in excess of
differed from most, in that the picture shows $5m. The 1860 hall is now a stunning multi-
Kerang was probably the most extreme were run by the Institute's committee for its use space, with cinema quality digital rear-
example of this. The building bore the name long duration. Seating was shown as 700 until projection, and is used for many community
"Mechanics" above the central door, and the the mid 1940s when it was reduced to about purposes. These Walls Speak Volumes notes
words "Town" and "Hall" on either side of 500. The building still provides an imposing that older Ballarat citizens more readily
that. O'Halloran Theatres ran the show from presence in the main street.
the mid 1930s and Film Weekly listed the
venue as "Town Hall" until 1946. The Argus
of 27 November 1939 included the news that
Mr. F. R. O'Halloran, who leased the hall as a
picture theatre, had purchased it from the
Trustees. He changed the name to the Regent
and the building continued to operate as a
picture theatre until 1967. It was demolished
in that year, and the Regent Arcade was built
on the site.
Murtoa was another with an interesting
history. The Mechanics’ Institute was built in
1885 and became a popular picture venue. It
was recorded that, in 1925, the silent film The
Ten Commandments screened for 10 nights to
the accompaniment of the Murtoa Orchestra.
This was an excellent result for a town of less
than 1200, where films usually ran for two
nights. The hall was partially destroyed by fire
in 1928 and the committee continued
operating in an open air theatre. A new hall “The Lyric” Apollo Bay (Vic.)

18 CINEMARECORD # 89