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THE OLD THEATRES OF HEALESVILLE , VIC.

by Richard Twentyman

he attractive town of Healesville is located
Tin the Yarra Valley, some 50 km east-
north-east of Melbourne. The Yarra Valley is
well known for its abundance of vineyards and
fine food. Healesville is a popular tourist
resort, particularly in the winter months as it is
close to some of Victoria’s snowfields.

I have always been aware of the Memorial
Hall in Healesville (affectionately known as
“The Memo”) as being the home for cinema
and the performing arts in the town, and had
visited its then projectionist, CATHS member
Brian Luscombe, in the projection room prior
to the building’s refurbishment into the
technically well-equipped facility it is today.
However, on a recent visit to Healesville, my
wife was browsing through a book showing the
history of the town in pictorial form, and The Green Street site of the former Cherry’s Hall.
noticed a copy of a newspaper advertisement Rather plain in appearance and of Cherry’s Hall, organised by Mrs. Alexander,
for a screening of the silent movie, Come On weatherboard construction, Burt’s Recreation Miss Olive Piggott, the music teacher, and
Over in 1922 at a location known as Cherry’s Hall measured approximately 90 feet (28 Mrs. Tom Philips. These concerts raised funds
Hall. On further investigation, I found that metres) long. According to the Tourist’s Guide towards the construction of the proposed
there was also another theatre – Palais of 1904, the hall had acetylene gas lighting, a Memorial Hall, which was opened on 2 April
Pictures – which started screening silent piano and could accommodate 500. A stage 1924 by Lord Forster. The cost of construction
movies in around 1924, and sound films from with adjoining dressing rooms was at the was reported to be near £10,000.. The
around 1929. northern end, and an external projection room completion of the Memorial Hall resulted in
stood to one side of the main entry doorway the transfer of many of Cherry’s Hall
at the southern end. Except for the activities to the new, more spacious building.
white painted proscenium arch,
the hall was lined with unstained During the time Mrs. Cherry owned the hall,
pine boards. The acoustics were she held regular dances. Unfortunately, the
claimed to be excellent. The local fire brigade, which was then located
proscenium arch was quite deep, diagonally opposite, also held dances on the
and the stage extended back by same nights. Mrs. Cherry complained to the
almost 20 feet (6 metres). The Country Fire Brigade Board about this matter,
stage was equipped with red and received their assurance that this practice
velvet curtains, several sets of would stop. However, the fire brigade dances
painted wings and a scenic continued, leading Mrs. Cherry to write
backdrop. The footlights were another letter of complaint on 24 March 1916.
protected by oval-shaped guards. The result of that letter is unknown. On the
Dame Nellie Melba reportedly night of 29 August 1930, Cherry’s Hall
gave concerts here for the Red burned to the ground. One of the volunteers at
Artist’s sketch of the Cherry’s Hall proscenium Cross during World War 1. the Healesville and District Historical Society
(Melba’s home at the time was the Coombe recalls that, at the time, he was staying at a
With help from members of the Healesville Farm estate in the Yarra Valley.) friend’s house nearby, and witnessed the
and District Historical Society, it seems that inferno. There is a photograph in the Historical
film screenings in the town went back even However, Burt only had a few years left to see Society’s archives of the local Fire Brigade
further. The first motion pictures were shown the success of his hall. After he died in 1914, Chief standing in front of the charred remains,
at an open-air cinema behind Mr. Tom his widow was unable to carry on activities, however it was not of suitable quality to
Phillips’ plumbing shop in the main street, and sold the hall to Mr. & Mrs. Cherry, the reproduce here.
adjoining the old Presbyterian Church. The venue being known as
Old sketch plan of Cherry’s Hall
projection box was a small shed, and the Cherry’s Hall from
audience brought their own seating. However, then on. For a number
nothing more is known about this venue. of years, Mrs. Cherry
conducted ballroom
In 1904, the licensee of Healesville’s Grand dancing classes. The
Hotel, Mr. Percy Burt, built Burt’s hall was also home to
Recreation Hall, just up the hill behind the weekly screenings of
hotel in Green Street, on the site now occupied silent movies provided
by the Healesville Tyre Shop. For almost three by Mr. George Ford of
decades, the hall was the centre of the nearby town of
Healesville’s social scene. Burt himself was a Lilydale, such
man of many talents. He served as stage screenings continuing
manager for a benefit concert held in Daly’s until the Harvie
Hall (built in 1887 at 201 Nicholson Street, but brothers obtained the
now demolished) on 7 September 1900, also lease of the Memorial
playing the clarinet, the organ and singing in Hall. Concerts were
the same concert. often a feature of

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