Page 28 - CR-93

MILDURA’S LANGTREE HALL

by Keith Davies

uilt in 1889, Langtree Hall was
BMildura’s first public hall. The hall was
home for numerous activities including roller
skating, dinners, dances, meetings, parties,
local productions, church meetings, boxing,
vaudeville, cake and fruit stalls, horticultural
shows, lectures, weddings, and as a court of
petty sessions until the courthouse was built in
1892.

In 1890, the Mildura Brass Band made its first
public appearance in July, and Hayman’s
Criterion Dramatic Company commenced a
season in August.
Alterations
were made to
the hall in early
in 1892. The
floor was lifted Langtree Hall (centre) c. 1889. (Courtesy Mildura Historical Society)
and traction reverted to Langtree Hall in 1893 and was
engines were used for the next 14 years or so for public
employed to meetings, church services and social events,
move the hall skating, concerts, meetings, speakers, socials,
back about dances, etc.
56 feet
(17 metres) Local drama groups performed frequently in
from the street the hall, including the Mildura Entertainment
frontage. The Society with the three-act comedy Our
hall was Regiment (1897), In Honour Bound, and
extended 20 variety entertainment (1898) and the three-act
feet (6 metres) and a new stage of width 16 farcical comedy Betsy!.(1898).
feet (5 metres) was erected with a slight slope
towards the front. The walls were diagonally The operetta Snow White and the Seven
lined throughout with Baltic deal, and a new Dwarfs was performed in January 1898 by the
floor suitable for skating was laid. Ample members of the Mildura Tableaux Club with
provision was made for ventilation with selections by the Mildura Brass Band.
louvre vents in the roof. It had an ornamental Touring picture shows were sometimes shown
ceiling and proscenium, and dressing rooms in the Langtree Hall, mainly when the usual
were attached at the rear of the platform. The venue, the Shire Hall, was unavailable. on 31 October 1908 (the Shire Hall once again
owner of the building, Mr Risby, proposed being unavailable) “including views of the
having a brick structure in the front of the hall Mr J Phelan’s Bioscope was one such show - American Fleet as well as other fine and
containing four rooms, two on each side of a “A Perfect Show”. “The most magnificent numerous funny pictures”. 4
passage leading into the hall. These rooms array of world renowned attractions ever
were for shops or offices. Provision will be placed before the people of Mildura. This The hall opened for a season of roller skating
made for a ticket box. 1 magnificent production is a remarkable as the Empire Skatarium in March 1909. A
specimen of brilliancy, conception and new Kauri floor was laid in May. The hall
For a short time in 1892, the hall was known ingenuity, and far surpasses any of the kind continued to be used for skating, and other
as the Hall of Varieties and hosted concerts, ever shown in the colony before. Front seats 2 general uses, for the next few years.
meetings, social events and a gymnasium. It shillings, back seats 1 shilling” 2
Below: A social event at Langtree Hall (Mildura Cultivator 16 Nov 1910)
Phelan’s Bioscope was at
the Langtree Hall for
various shows between
April 1900 and April 1902.

Towards the end of 1907,
Mr Risby died and the hall
was for sale for £300 as
3
part of the Risby Estate.
The hall was sold in mid
1908.

J C Langley, whose name
was well known in
Mildura, showed his living
pictures at Langtree Hall

28 CINEMARECORD # 93