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RICHMOND NATIONAL THEATRE
by Les Tod

he National Theatre was located at
T177 Bridge Road, and was built by
Mr T M Hodges on the site of his earlier
theatre, the National Open Air Electric
Pictures. (1)
The National opened on Monday 30 October
1911. (2) The Age reported:

‘The opening ceremony will take place by
invitation of the National Pictures on Monday
next. This Theatre is also of substantial
construction with shop frontage and it is
claimed that it will possess the largest screen
of any kind in the metropolis.’ (3)
Mr Hodges had come to Australia in 1869
from Canada and England, in search of gold.
After an adventurous life as a miner in
Kalgoorlie and the Northern Territory, as well
as owning a hall and billiard room in
Wonthaggi, Victoria, he arrived in Richmond.
Here he acquired various business interests
and saw the opportunity to make money in the
new silent pictures that were becoming
popular. (4)
seated nothing like 2000 – in fact it seated accommodation for about 1100 persons. The
In April 1911, it was reported ‘Mr Hodges is 1100, only around half that amount. sloping floor enables those at the rear to
completing his plans for the new Picture obtain an uninterrupted view, and the same
Theatre about to be erected in Bridge-road, It was reported of the opening of the new applies to the gallery, which, as it is the best
opposite Love and Lewis. Additional land theatre: part of the house, has aptly been termed the
having been purchased, the building will be dress circle. The seats are of a neat and light
larger than the open air enclosure in which ‘Hodge’s splendid new picture theatre, The pattern, arranged to tip up, so that ample
the entertainments are now held. The girders National, in Bridge-road (opposite Love and space can be made for persons passing
of Cliveden ballroom (now being demolished) Lewis) was opened on Monday evening last, between the rows, and thus avoid the crushing
have been purchased and will be used in the when a large assemblage of citizens, at the and inconvenience of the ordinary chairs.
new building, which is to be a substantial invitation of the Messrs Hodges, had the
brick structure, commodious and well-lighted, pleasure of a free night’s entertainment, equal ‘Special pains have been taken with regard to
with spacious balcony and all the necessary to that obtainable in any of the numerous lighting and ventilation, so as to make the
accommodation for seating about 2000 picture theatres in Melbourne or suburbs, and theatre as comfortable as possible, especially
people.’ (5) This was rather a typical far superior to many. The building is a in the warm weather. A wide entrance hall
newspaper over-statement, as the theatre spacious brick structure with seating enables a large crowd to pass in with a
minimum of inconvenience.. The cost of the
building, with land, was £4,000… the
requirements of the Board of Health were fully
complied with … the building which had been
erected within a period of nine weeks. The
Richmond public now has in their midst an
up-to-date picture theatre…’ The Minister of
Customs, the Hon G Tudor, declared the
building open and hoped that the efforts of the
Messrs Hodges would meet with the success
they deserved. (6)
On 4 June 1912, some seven months after
opening, the Public Health Department sent
the Town Clerk, Richmond, and Mr Hodges,
formal approval to open the theatre. (7)

In 1912, the theatre was advertising ‘The
Pioneer of Picture Theatres in Richmond. We
lead, Others Follow. A comfortable Lift-up
Theatre Chair for everyone in all parts of the
House… Cool and Ventilated. Exclusive
Pictures. Complete change twice weekly.
Come and hear the Marvellous National
Orchestra. Support local enterprise.’ (8)

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