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BELLERIVE REGENT THEATRE

by Earl Martell

f you are a cricket fan, you will know where Designed by local architect, George Jackson, Prior to 1928, the only way for ‘Eastern shore’
Ithe Bellerive Oval is situated. Bellerive is a and built by Hobart builder, James Toole, at a residents to see a film was to travel across the
Hobart suburb on the eastern shore, meaning cost of £4,500 ($9,000), the new Town Hall Tasman River by ferry and they usually had to
that it is on the other side of the Derwent River, consisted of two shops and a central foyer at leave before the end of the show to catch the
accessible from Hobart via the Tasman Bridge the front, a spacious hall with stage and last ferry back! Not surprisingly, the Bellerive
nowadays, by the old Hobart Bridge prior to dressing rooms at the back, Council chambers Council had no trouble leasing the hall as a
1964, or via ferries prior to 1943. The only upstairs and a small bio box for movies. The picture theatre, showing movies on a Saturday
other way there was a long trip via Bridgewater. foundation stone was laid by the then night. Other nights saw it used for public
Tasmanian Premier, Joseph Lyons, in October meetings, school concerts, dances, fundraising
The Bellerive Regent Theatre was located 1927 and the hall, which could accommodate events etc.
inside the Bellerive Town Hall, which was 550 people, was opened just six months later
built in 1928 on the corner of Cambridge Road by Tasmanian Governor, Sir James O’Grady. During the 1930s, the Town Hall Regent
and Percy Street to replace the existing On 28 April 1928, a grand opening concert was Theatre, as it was called, screened movies on
Council chambers and the Bellerive Social held there. Wednesday and Saturday nights with a
Institute, both of which needed larger premises. matinee on Saturday afternoons. Front stalls

34 CINEMARECORD # 96