Page 25 - CR-95

by Richard Twentyman

n July 2017, Melbourne’s grand old dame
Iof theatre, the Athenaeum, will have been
gracing Collins Street with her presence for
175 years, having opened in 1842 directly
across the street from the site where the other
well-known Collins Street Theatre, the
Regent, rose from the ground some 87 years
later in 1929.

However, the history of the Athenaeum goes
back even further to October 1839, when
Melbourne was a four year old infant. A group
of residents decided that a Mechanics Institute
should be formed “for the promotion of
science in this rising colony”. The Mechanics
Institute movement, which originally started
in Britain, provided the means for young men
and women to further their knowledge by
providing books, lectures and other events of
an educational nature. Mechanics Institute
historian, Pam Baragwanath, says, “The most
stunning aspect of the Athenaeum is its
survival in the heart of Melbourne”. In fact,
the Athenaeum was the first Mechanics
Institute to be formed in Victoria.

The Melbourne Mechanics Institute and
School of Arts was officially formed in
November 1839. At first, meetings were held
in a rented house on the corner of Bourke and
Elizabeth Streets. The present site was
purchased at a Government land sale in
The Sun 10 April 1929. August 1840, and the the statue of Athena was placed in a dominant
construction of a two-story position within a niche atop the building,
brick building was completed in where she has remained ever since, gazing
December 1842. The first tenant across Collins Street at the Regent Theatre.
was the Melbourne City In 1924, the building underwent further
Council until the Melbourne alterations to create the Athenaeum Theatre,
Town Hall was completed in complete with fly tower, stage, stalls, circle
1852. and gallery. The Architect for these
renovations was the notable Henry E. White.
Two more wings were added in
1857. In July 1872, the Films were being screened as early as 1896
foundation stone was laid for a and, in 1906, the Athenaeum hosted the
new hall, designed by one premiere of The Story of the Kelly Gang. It
Alfred Smith. In 1873, the name was also home to the first talkie screened in
of the building was changed to Melbourne - The Jazz Singer – on 2 February
the Melbourne Athenaeum. 1929. Dame Nellie Melba performed there, as
Over the next decade, more well as noted author, Mark Twain. From 1932
extensions took place and it was - 1948, it became the world’s first all-British
as part of those extensions that cinema.

CINEMARECORD # 95 25