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CINEMAS OF ORANGE, NSW

Edited from research by Gerry Kennedy

Australia Theatre, 1996

range is a large rural city of 38,000 later altered to improve its theatre facilities; In the 1970's, the Century again screened
Oresidents, located approximately 210 km including the provision of a large fly-tower. films regularly. However, this time the upstairs
west of Sydney on the Barrier Highway. The Australia saw such luminaries as the had been converted into an intimate cinema,
Salvationist lecturer, Booth (1900), Banjo renamed the Australia. This cinema was
Over the years, Orange has been served by five Patterson (1902), and Dame Nellie Melba entered from a wide staircase leading from the
single screens: the Australia, the Star, the (1907). The Australia regularly screened films right hand side of the frontage. A small foyer
Strand, the Orange, and the Metro, In in 1906. In the 1920's, the Australia was contained the ticket office/ candy bar and
addition, Orange also had the Western Drive- remodelled into a cinema along fairly standard toilets. The former downstairs foyers had been
in Theatre. lines. Two side staircases lead to an upstairs rented as commercial premises. When the
foyer, a large projection suite was built at the Australia operated in opposition to the
The Australia Cinema rear of the dress circle and another staircase Western theatres, it often had trouble obtaining
directly linked the rewind area to the first floor quality product and existed on a combination
James Dalton, a wealthy local merchant and foyer. of B Grade, R rated and second run films.
retailer, wanted to host a visit of some
Irishmen to seek support for the then The three hard-top cinemas ran as independent In the late 1980's, after many ups and downs,
independence movement (from England). houses which were later acquired by Western the Australia was taken over by Box Office
Given the colonialist nature of New South Theatres, a subsidiary of the Schneider and Promotions Pty. Ltd. This company was
Wales at the time, his proposal for the visit Dean circuit. These theatres were upgraded for owned by Andrew Ward (of the Melbourne
drew strong local and Government opposition. the introduction of Cinemascope, and the Dendy theatre family), and Graham Irish (from
In fact, he was stripped of his Justice of the Australia became the Century. Sydney). In 1995, the company planned to
Peace status. He could not find a venue in twin the Australia; however a four-screen
which to stage the meeting. Consequently, in The theatre was given a typical 1950's complex was the result. The upstairs cinema
1884 he built Australia Hall in Lords Place to makeover, both internally and externally, was retained, and three extra cinemas were
stage the Irish visitation. It was named the resulting in a most attractive venue. Three added within the existing building. The real
Australia for patriotic reasons. The building Coins in the Fountain held the honours at the estate agency office at the front of the theatre
itself was a two level, brick construction with Century. was converted into the ground floor foyer. The
a classical frontage and fairly narrow proposal also included a second storey
auditorium. In the late 1960's, the Century closed and was extension over the southern right-of-way for
sold to Frank Alcorn who was the proprietor of projection rooms. The total seating capacity
The Australia was considered to be the best the building next door. He hired the theatre to increased from 240 to 658, with all four
theatre west of the Blue Mountains. Because of local groups and travelling entrepreneurs. cinemas in operation by Christmas 1996.
its size, it proved to be a popular venue for
touring shows and local live theatre. Its School speech nights were also held in the The new Australia Cinemas was entered
opposition venues included the School of Arts Century theatre. through the original foyer spaces and a deep
and the Oddfellows Hall. The building was extension into the original stalls area. The

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