Australian Open Drive-in Theatres
Encyclopedia
Drive-in theatre
s (also known as Drive-In Cinemas or Drive-ins) were once very popular in Australia
. Although considered an American invention there is evidence of outdoor cinemas in Western Australia where some patrons attended in their cars as far back as 1938, and it is possible that these facilities may even predate the first American style drive-in theatre.
on 18 February 1954. It was the first of 330 drive-in theatres that would open across Australia.
Many have since closed with the large amounts of land taken up by drive-ins being sold off to build houses or shopping centres. Although in recent years a number of drive-in theatres have reopened and/or expanded the number of screens available.
In the 1990s, the Coburg
Drive-in Theatre in Melbourne
, was expanded to 3 screens, as was the Dromana
Drive-in Theatre. In more recent times the former Dandenong Panoramic Drive-in, in Victoria
, has been reopened as the Lunar Drive-in Theatre and now boasts 4 screens making it Australia's largest drive-in theatre with the most screen choice.
The Wonga Drive-in Theatre in Queensland
has also expanded and now has 3 screens also. The Rodeo Drive In at Mareeba, near Cairns has new owners and is attracting good crowds. More recently the Tivoli Drive-in near Ipswich has been reopened as well.
Along with a few metropolitan operations, there are a number of drive-in theatres serving remote communities such as Jericho
in Queensland.
in the early 1950s Hoyts
’ southern division manager, George Griffith Jnr, believed that drive-in theatres would be successful in Australia. Hoyts and Fox however did not share Griffith’s enthusiasm for the establishment of a drive-in theatre, so Griffith subsequently formed a syndicate, Auto Theatres Pty Ltd, which decided on a site in the Melbourne suburb of Burwood for Australia's first drive-in theatre. Construction proceeded through the latter half of 1953 from plans drawn up by AC Leith Bartlett & Partners in conjunction with RCA Australia. The Skyline Burwood officially opening on 18 February 1954 and proved extremely popular, with traffic jams in both directions along the Burwood Highway. Hoyts subsequently bought out Griffith and his partners.
Following the success of the first drive-in theatre, the Skyline (Burwood), Hoyts quickly opened Skyline drive-in theatres at Preston
in 1954, and Oakleigh
in March 1955. The next Hoyts drive-in was constructed in Broadmeadows (1958), but then there was a break of almost 10 years until Hoyts acquired drive-ins at Coburg
and Oakleigh and constructed new drive-ins in Bulleen
(1965), Wantirna
(1968) and Altona
. In 1972 the Broadmeadows Skyline was the first of the Melbourne suburban drive-ins to close, whilst the Oakleigh site was the last drive-in operated by Hoyts in the world, when it finally closed in 1990.
Today Melburnians are the most fortunate drive-in patrons having the luxury of 10 screens in their immediate vicinity to choose from (counting Rosebud as being basically suburban Melbourne). Rural Victorians however have been less fortunate with no drive-in theatres currently in operation.
was the first drive-in theatre in New South Wales. It opened in November 1956, with a 724 car capacity and until it closure in September 2007 was Australia's oldest continually operating drive-in theatre. This was followed by a Skyline in Newcastle
in December 1956 at a cost of $200,000, with a capacity for 722 cars and a holding area for a further 420. The Newcastle Skyline closed in June 1985.
Until recently the Greater Union Blacktown
Drive In was one of Sydney's last remaining drive-ins, however a new seasonal facility with a blow up screen has recently started at Randwick Racecourse. A few small community drive-ins remain in rural NSW.
The Burleigh Heads
Drive-in was one of Queensland's first drive-ins when it opened in 1957 with a 500 car capacity. The Skyline Drive-in located in Sunnybank Hills
was the second drive-in to operate in Brisbane when it opened in 1957. It could hold 650 cars on its 17 acres and also had a children’s railway line, putt putt, badminton
facilities and a dance floor. It was followed by the Starlight drive-in at Aspley
, which was opened in January 1957 (at a cost of £100,000), and the Skyline drive-in at Coopers Plains
in April 1957 (at a cost of £200,000), with a 650 car capacity.
in October 1955 (with a 642 car capacity), this started a boom in suburban drive-ins which saw a further eight operating by the end of the decade (the Skyline in Floreat
in November 1955, Mott's in Gosnells
in January 1956, the Panorama in Roleystone
in March 1956, the Metro in Innaloo
and the Lakeway in Swanbourne
in April 1957, the Melway in Melville
, the Wirrina in Morely
in March 1959 and the Eastway in Belmont
in July 1959) and another nine opened in the 1960s: growth then slowed to only five more built in the 1970s with the last drive-in theatre, Aceway in the suburb of Morley
, constructed in 1980.
In the country areas, the first to open was the Oasis in Geraldton
in 1957, and there were only three more built in the 1950s; the Mayfair in Bunbury
, the Avonway in Northam
and the Morcady in Wongan Hills
. The boom years in the country were the sixties, which saw 61 drive-ins opened, with growth then slowing to only six more built in the seventies and one in the eighties.
By the 1990s there were only three suburban drive-ins that remained; the Metro in Innaloo, which closed in 1993, the Highway in Bentley, which closed in 1994, and the Galaxy in Kingsley
, which still remains open. There are however a significant number of drive-in theatres, and car-friendly outdoor cinemas still operating in rural Western Australia.
, Adelaide
was the first drive-in located in South Australia, and the first to be constructed outside of Melbourne. It was opened on 28 December 1954, it was followed by the Mainline Drive-In theatre at Gepps Cross
on 7 October 1955, which was Australia's first drive-in / walk-in theatre (with a capacity for 500 cars and seating for 400 patrons). It was followed by the Shandon in Seaton
in early July 1956, the Hi-Line in Springbank in March 1957, and the MGM Metro at Marion
in June 1957. The first country drive-in opened at Port Pirie
in September 1957.
Following the closure of the Valleyline at St Agnes
in May 2003 only the Wallis
Mainline Drive-in at Gepps Cross is the only remaining drive-in located in metropolitan Adelaide. In the country areas, the closing of Riverview at Murray Bridge
in February 2005 (after 46 years) and the Riverland in Barmera
in September 2008, only the community run facility at Coober Pedy, the Coober Pedy Open Air Outback Cinema, remains.
) Drive-in theatre which was the largest privately owned drive-in located in Australia, which was opened in 1965 and closed in 1985.
and Warrane
in Hobart, and in Launceston
, Devonport
and Burnie
. The last of Tasmania’s drive-in theatres at Elwick and Mowbray
closed in March 1985.
(opened in January 1957 and closed in 1993), which has now been redeveloped for medium-density housing
, and the Sundown at Narrabundah
(opened in 1968 and closed in 1984) which is now a caravan park.
Drive-in theater
A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.The screen can be as simple as a...
s (also known as Drive-In Cinemas or Drive-ins) were once very popular in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Although considered an American invention there is evidence of outdoor cinemas in Western Australia where some patrons attended in their cars as far back as 1938, and it is possible that these facilities may even predate the first American style drive-in theatre.
History
The first American style drive-in theatre to open in Australia was the Skyline in the Melbourne suburb of BurwoodBurwood, Victoria
Burwood is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is largely the City of Whitehorse but includes the City of Monash in its south west corner. At the 2006 Census, Burwood had a population of 11,886.-History:The...
on 18 February 1954. It was the first of 330 drive-in theatres that would open across Australia.
Many have since closed with the large amounts of land taken up by drive-ins being sold off to build houses or shopping centres. Although in recent years a number of drive-in theatres have reopened and/or expanded the number of screens available.
In the 1990s, the Coburg
Coburg, Victoria
Coburg is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland, although a handful of properties on Coburg's Eastern boundary are located in the City of Darebin...
Drive-in Theatre in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, was expanded to 3 screens, as was the Dromana
Dromana, Victoria
Dromana is a suburb south of Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, Australia, and is located on the Mornington Peninsula. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.-Geography:...
Drive-in Theatre. In more recent times the former Dandenong Panoramic Drive-in, in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, has been reopened as the Lunar Drive-in Theatre and now boasts 4 screens making it Australia's largest drive-in theatre with the most screen choice.
The Wonga Drive-in Theatre in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
has also expanded and now has 3 screens also. The Rodeo Drive In at Mareeba, near Cairns has new owners and is attracting good crowds. More recently the Tivoli Drive-in near Ipswich has been reopened as well.
Jericho, Queensland
Jericho is a rural village situated on the Capricorn Highway in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Jericho and the surrounding region had a population of 309.-History:...
in Queensland.
By state
The remaining drive-ins provide a glimpse of what was a very popular pastime in the 1950s and 1960s. The following is a listing of Australia's remaining open drive-in theatres. It also includes portable operations in which patrons can either drive or sit down to see a movie outdoors.Victoria
Following a visit to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the early 1950s Hoyts
Hoyts
The Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
’ southern division manager, George Griffith Jnr, believed that drive-in theatres would be successful in Australia. Hoyts and Fox however did not share Griffith’s enthusiasm for the establishment of a drive-in theatre, so Griffith subsequently formed a syndicate, Auto Theatres Pty Ltd, which decided on a site in the Melbourne suburb of Burwood for Australia's first drive-in theatre. Construction proceeded through the latter half of 1953 from plans drawn up by AC Leith Bartlett & Partners in conjunction with RCA Australia. The Skyline Burwood officially opening on 18 February 1954 and proved extremely popular, with traffic jams in both directions along the Burwood Highway. Hoyts subsequently bought out Griffith and his partners.
Following the success of the first drive-in theatre, the Skyline (Burwood), Hoyts quickly opened Skyline drive-in theatres at Preston
Preston, Victoria
Preston is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Preston had a population of 27,892.-Settlement:...
in 1954, and Oakleigh
Oakleigh, Victoria
Oakleigh is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and is located 14 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Monash. At the 2006 Census, Oakleigh had a population of 6,876....
in March 1955. The next Hoyts drive-in was constructed in Broadmeadows (1958), but then there was a break of almost 10 years until Hoyts acquired drive-ins at Coburg
Coburg, Victoria
Coburg is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland, although a handful of properties on Coburg's Eastern boundary are located in the City of Darebin...
and Oakleigh and constructed new drive-ins in Bulleen
Bulleen, Victoria
Bulleen is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Manningham. At the 2006 Census, Bulleen had a population of 10,528.-Etymology:...
(1965), Wantirna
Wantirna, Victoria
Wantirna is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Knox. At the 2006 Census, Wantirna had a population of 13,978....
(1968) and Altona
Altona, Victoria
Altona is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 13 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Altona had a population of 9685....
. In 1972 the Broadmeadows Skyline was the first of the Melbourne suburban drive-ins to close, whilst the Oakleigh site was the last drive-in operated by Hoyts in the world, when it finally closed in 1990.
Today Melburnians are the most fortunate drive-in patrons having the luxury of 10 screens in their immediate vicinity to choose from (counting Rosebud as being basically suburban Melbourne). Rural Victorians however have been less fortunate with no drive-in theatres currently in operation.
- Lunar Drive-in Theatre (4 screens), DandenongDandenong, VictoriaDandenong is a suburb and major urban centre in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 30 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Situated on Dandenong Creek and mostly flat land at the foothills of Mount Dandenong, it is the main administrative centre for the City of...
- The Lunar Dandenong is now Australia's largest and oldest (still in operation) drive-in theatre. It was first opened 4 May 1956 and was constructed by J and K Houlahan from plans drawn up by Baily and Tilley. The original capacity was to be for 400 cars however this was redesigned to accommodate 600 cars, with the final capacity being 634 cars. The drive-in closed on 18 April 1984 and was subsequently purchased by Trash and Treasure Australia Pty Ltd, who operated a Sunday market on the site in the 1970s. On 19 September 2002 it reopened as a two screen drive-in, with a third screen added in September 2003 with a 950 car capacity.
- VillageVillage CinemasVillage Cinemas is an Australian cinema chain. Its Australian sites are owned and operated by Village Roadshow-Amalgamated Holdings Limited joint venture Australian Theatres. The group has rebranded several of its premier Australian and New Zealand cinemas as Event Cinemas since 2009. Village...
Coburg Drive-in (3 Screens), CoburgCoburg, VictoriaCoburg is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland, although a handful of properties on Coburg's Eastern boundary are located in the City of Darebin...
- Village
- Coburg opened in November 1965, under the ownership of Sillman and Sharp. It was acquired by HoytsHoytsThe Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
in 1967 until it closed in 1984. Hoyts were unable to sell the site despite numerous attempts and in 1987 VillageVillage CinemasVillage Cinemas is an Australian cinema chain. Its Australian sites are owned and operated by Village Roadshow-Amalgamated Holdings Limited joint venture Australian Theatres. The group has rebranded several of its premier Australian and New Zealand cinemas as Event Cinemas since 2009. Village...
joined with HoytsHoytsThe Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
and re-opened Coburg as a twin screen in 1987. A third screen was added in 1995. Coburg was Australia's largest drive-in theatre with an 850 car capacity, until the expansion at Dandenong in 2003.- Dromana 3 Drive-in (3 Screens), DromanaDromana, VictoriaDromana is a suburb south of Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, Australia, and is located on the Mornington Peninsula. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.-Geography:...
- Dromana 3 Drive-in (3 Screens), Dromana
- The Dromona was opened in 1961 with a capacity of 485 cars. It has since been expanded to a three screen operation and has a Sunday market operating from the site. It is only one of three that have never closed (since the 1960's), operating continuously since it's inception (1961) to the present..http://www.nattrust.com.au/trust_register/search_the_register/dromana_drive_in
New South Wales
The Skyline in Bass HillBass Hill, New South Wales
Bass Hill, a suburb of local government area City of Bankstown, is located 23 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and is a part of the South-western Sydney region.-History:...
was the first drive-in theatre in New South Wales. It opened in November 1956, with a 724 car capacity and until it closure in September 2007 was Australia's oldest continually operating drive-in theatre. This was followed by a Skyline in Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
in December 1956 at a cost of $200,000, with a capacity for 722 cars and a holding area for a further 420. The Newcastle Skyline closed in June 1985.
Until recently the Greater Union Blacktown
Blacktown, New South Wales
Blacktown is a suburb in the City of Blacktown, in Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Blacktown is located 34 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of City of Blacktown.Blacktown is the largest...
Drive In was one of Sydney's last remaining drive-ins, however a new seasonal facility with a blow up screen has recently started at Randwick Racecourse. A few small community drive-ins remain in rural NSW.
- Randwick Racecourse Drive In, Randwick, New South WalesRandwick, New South WalesRandwick is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Randwick...
- Greater Union Blacktown Drive-In (2 Screens), BlacktownBlacktown, New South WalesBlacktown is a suburb in the City of Blacktown, in Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Blacktown is located 34 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of City of Blacktown.Blacktown is the largest...
- Blacktown Skyline was opened in the 1960s. It was the first of the Consolidated circuit to add a second screen in 1984 and has a capacity of 700 cars. It is currently operated by Greater UnionGreater UnionGreater Union, Birch Carroll and Coyle, Event Cinemas, Skycity Cinemas and Damodar Village Cinemas together form a chain of cinema multiplexes across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji...
.- Heddon Greta Skyline Drive-In, Heddon GretaGreta, New South WalesGreta is a small town in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia in Cessnock City Council. It has a population of around 1000 people. It is largely a commuter town located midway between Cessnock, Singleton and Maitland...
- Lightning Ridge
- Stockrington Drive In , Stockrington, New South Wales
- Tibooburra Drive In, TibooburraTibooburra, New South WalesTibooburra has an arid, desert climate with temperatures soaring above 40°Celsius in summer, often reaching as high as 47°C . Temperatures are milder in winter, averaging around 20°C in the daytime. These extreme temperatures make Tibooburra the hottest town in New South Wales, as reported on...
- Heddon Greta Skyline Drive-In, Heddon Greta
Queensland
Queensland had at one stage over fifty drive-ins. Now all of the suburban Brisbane drive-in theatres have closed leaving the Gold Coast's Yatala and Wonga's drive-in as the closest drive-in theatres to Brisbane. In rural Queensland however, there are still a number of drive-in theatres operating.The Burleigh Heads
Burleigh Heads, Queensland
Burleigh Heads is a suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 Census, Burleigh Heads had a population of 7,606.Burleigh Heads is renowned for its surf break, and is an alternative to the more tourist ridden towns of the Gold Coast...
Drive-in was one of Queensland's first drive-ins when it opened in 1957 with a 500 car capacity. The Skyline Drive-in located in Sunnybank Hills
Sunnybank Hills, Queensland
Sunnybank Hills is an outer southern suburb of Brisbane about 15 kilometres from Brisbane CBD, in Queensland, Australia. It is a large suburb, and adjoins the suburbs of Calamvale, Coopers Plains, Sunnybank, Macgregor, Algester, Acacia Ridge and Runcorn....
was the second drive-in to operate in Brisbane when it opened in 1957. It could hold 650 cars on its 17 acres and also had a children’s railway line, putt putt, badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
facilities and a dance floor. It was followed by the Starlight drive-in at Aspley
Aspley, Queensland
Aspley is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia located about 13 kilometres north and about a half-hour drive north of the Central Business District of Brisbane...
, which was opened in January 1957 (at a cost of £100,000), and the Skyline drive-in at Coopers Plains
Coopers Plains, Queensland
Coopers Plains is an outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It is south-west of the CBD.-Transport:Coopers Plains railway station provides access to regular Citytrain services to Brisbane, Beenleigh and Gold Coast. There are many buses passing Coopers Plains, which are 120 , 135 , 123 , 598 and 599...
in April 1957 (at a cost of £200,000), with a 650 car capacity.
- Lower Wonga Triple Drive-in (3 Screens), Wonga
- The Wonga drive-in was opened in 2002, with a second screen added in 2004, increasing it to a 250 car capacity. A third screen was subsequently added however in January 2010 it was closed, when its owner when into receivership. In September 2010 a new owner took over the operation of the drive-in reopening in December.
- Ayr Stardust Drive In, AyrAyr, QueenslandAyr is a town in Queensland, Australia near the delta of the Burdekin River, named after the Scottish town of Ayr by the settlers from the United Kingdom...
- Ayr Stardust Drive In, Ayr
- The Stardust drive-in was opened in September 1964, with a capacity of 360 cars. Built within the grounds is a hardtop cinema, so patrons can choose between outdoor and indoor movies.
- Tivoli Drive In, IpswichIpswich, QueenslandIpswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
- Yatala Twin Drive In(2 screens), YatalaYatala, QueenslandYatala is a suburb in the outer northern areas of Gold Coast City in Queensland, Australia.Surrounding suburbs of Yatala include Beenleigh, Windaroo, and Stapylton...
- Tivoli Drive In, Ipswich
- The Yalta Drive-In is the Gold Coast's last open-air drive-in theatre (in an area which formerly had over 20 drive-in theatres), formerly Beenleigh Drive-In, it opened on 27 October 1974, and in 2000 the theatre was renamed Yatala Twin Drive-In when a second screen was added.
- Charters Towers Tors Drive-In, Charters TowersCharters Towers, QueenslandCharters Towers is a city in northern Queensland, Australia. It is located 137 kilometres inland from Townsville on the Flinders Highway. In 2006 the population was 7,979 people, some 450 fewer than in the 2001 census. During the last quarter of the 19th century the town boomed as the rich gold...
- Charters Towers Tors Drive-In, Charters Towers
- The Charters Towers Tors drive-in was opened in 1966 and has two screens with capacity for 300 cars.
- Jericho Drive in, JerichoJericho, QueenslandJericho is a rural village situated on the Capricorn Highway in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Jericho and the surrounding region had a population of 309.-History:...
- Jericho Drive in, Jericho
- The Jericho drive-in is the smallest public drive-in located in Australia, and possibly the world, with a capacity for 35 cars. It was opened in 1969.
- Rodeo Drive In Mareeba, MareebaMareeba, QueenslandMareeba is a town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. The town is above sea level on the confluence of the Barron River, Granite Creek and Emerald Creek. The town's name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning meeting of the waters...
- Rodeo Drive In Mareeba, Mareeba
- The Mareeba Rodeo drive-in was built by Far Northern Theatres in the 1960s. Far Northern Theatres had a circuit that extended right through far northern Queenland and into Papua New GuineaPapua New GuineaPapua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. The circuit was sold to Birch Carrol & CoyleGreater UnionGreater Union, Birch Carroll and Coyle, Event Cinemas, Skycity Cinemas and Damodar Village Cinemas together form a chain of cinema multiplexes across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji...
in the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, Birch Carrol & Coyle pulled out and the Rodeo was sold to Norm Janke. Janke operated the drive-in until 1998 when it closed. It subsequently re-opened in 2002, with a 300 car capacity.
Western Australia
The first conventional drive-in located in Western Australia was the Highway, opened in the suburb of BentleyBentley, Western Australia
Bentley is a southern suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, and is located 8 km southeast of Perth's central business district. Its Local Government Areas are the City of Canning and the Town of Victoria Park...
in October 1955 (with a 642 car capacity), this started a boom in suburban drive-ins which saw a further eight operating by the end of the decade (the Skyline in Floreat
Floreat, Western Australia
Floreat is a residential suburb located west-northwest from the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. It is bordered on three sides by Underwood Avenue, Selby Street, and Cromarty Road; the western border adjoins or runs through Bold Park. It is located in the Town...
in November 1955, Mott's in Gosnells
Gosnells, Western Australia
The City of Gosnells is a Local Government Area in the southeastern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located northwest of Armadale and about southeast of Perth's central business district...
in January 1956, the Panorama in Roleystone
Roleystone, Western Australia
Roleystone is an outer southeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Armadale.-History:Roleystone's name originates from a property purchased by Thomas Buckingham in 1858, upon which he built a sawmill in 1866. The town was also referred to as "The...
in March 1956, the Metro in Innaloo
Innaloo, Western Australia
Innaloo is a suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, and it is located 9 km from Perth's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling....
and the Lakeway in Swanbourne
Swanbourne, Western Australia
-Facilities:Swanbourne includes the 18-hole Cottesloe Golf Club and Swanbourne Beach. Swanbourne is also well-known for having the only nudist beach in Perth. The beach, situated on army land and thus not subject to local council authority, is immediately north of the officially named Swanbourne...
in April 1957, the Melway in Melville
Melville, Western Australia
Melville is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia located within the likewise named City of Melville....
, the Wirrina in Morely
Morley, Western Australia
Morley is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated approximately northeast of Perth's central business district within the City of Bayswater local government area. It contains the Centro Galleria, Perth's second-largest commercial shopping centre, constructed in 1994. The Morley bus station...
in March 1959 and the Eastway in Belmont
Belmont, Western Australia
The City of Belmont is a Local Government Area in the inner eastern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located about east of Perth's central business district on the south bank of the Swan River...
in July 1959) and another nine opened in the 1960s: growth then slowed to only five more built in the 1970s with the last drive-in theatre, Aceway in the suburb of Morley
Morley, Western Australia
Morley is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated approximately northeast of Perth's central business district within the City of Bayswater local government area. It contains the Centro Galleria, Perth's second-largest commercial shopping centre, constructed in 1994. The Morley bus station...
, constructed in 1980.
In the country areas, the first to open was the Oasis in Geraldton
Geraldton, Western Australia
Geraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...
in 1957, and there were only three more built in the 1950s; the Mayfair in Bunbury
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
, the Avonway in Northam
Northam, Western Australia
Northam is a town in Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers, about north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley. At the 2006 census, Northam had a population of 6,009. Northam is the largest town in the Avon region...
and the Morcady in Wongan Hills
Wongan Hills, Western Australia
Wongan Hills is a town in the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu, in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. The town is approximately 182 km north of the State capital Perth, at an altitude of 286 metres....
. The boom years in the country were the sixties, which saw 61 drive-ins opened, with growth then slowing to only six more built in the seventies and one in the eighties.
By the 1990s there were only three suburban drive-ins that remained; the Metro in Innaloo, which closed in 1993, the Highway in Bentley, which closed in 1994, and the Galaxy in Kingsley
Kingsley, Western Australia
Kingsley is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Joondalup. Kingsley is bounded to the north by Whitfords Avenue, to the south by Hepburn Avenue, to the west by the Mitchell Freeway and to the east by Wanneroo Road....
, which still remains open. There are however a significant number of drive-in theatres, and car-friendly outdoor cinemas still operating in rural Western Australia.
- Busselton Drive In Outdoor Cinema, BusseltonBusselton, Western Australia-Growth and development:According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics the Shire had a permanent resident population of 25,950 in 2004 with the town of Busselton accounting for 67% or 17,400 of the total. The Shire's permanent population is expected to continue to increase significantly to...
- Denison Drive In, DongaraDongara, Western AustraliaDongara is a town located 351 km north-northwest of Perth on the Brand Highway. The town is located at the mouth of the Irwin River. In recent years the area has been marketed as the 'Rock lobster capital of Australia'....
- Galaxy Drive-in Theatre, KingsleyKingsley, Western AustraliaKingsley is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Joondalup. Kingsley is bounded to the north by Whitfords Avenue, to the south by Hepburn Avenue, to the west by the Mitchell Freeway and to the east by Wanneroo Road....
(Perth)
- The Galaxy was opened in 1973 and is the only suburban drive-in theatre in PerthPerth, Western AustraliaPerth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
.- Koorda Drive-in Theatre, KoordaKoorda, Western AustraliaKoorda is a town located in the North Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately east of Perth and north of Wyalkatchem at the northeastern end of the Cowcowing Lakes. It is the main town in the Shire of Koorda...
- Kununurra Picture Gardens, KununurraKununurra, Western AustraliaKununurra is a town in far northern Western Australia located at the eastern extremity of the Kimberley Region approximately from the border with the Northern Territory. Kununurra was initiated to service the Ord River Irrigation scheme....
- Mount Tom Price Open Air Drive In Theatre, Tom PriceTom Price, Western AustraliaTom Price, situated in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, is an industrial town. The town is located inland, at the edge of the Hamersley Range...
- Mukinbudin Drive in Theatre, MukinbudinMukinbudin, Western AustraliaMukinbudin is a town located in the North Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately east of Perth and north of Merredin near Lake Campion. It is the main town in the Shire of Mukinbudin...
- Pannawonica Drive in TheatrePannawonica, Western AustraliaThe town of Pannawonica is an iron-ore mining town located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, near the Robe River, about 200 km south-west from Karratha...
, PannawonicaPannawonica, Western AustraliaThe town of Pannawonica is an iron-ore mining town located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, near the Robe River, about 200 km south-west from Karratha... - Paraburdoo Drive in Theatre, ParaburdooParaburdoo, Western AustraliaParaburdoo is a town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The name of the town comes from the Aboriginal word for 'white cockatoo'. It is located 1,536 kilometres north of Perth and 79 kilometres southwest of Tom Price. Paraburdoo was developed in the early 1970s to support Hamersley...
- Wyndham Picture Gardens, WyndhamWyndham, Western AustraliaWyndham is the oldest and northernmost town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, located on the Great Northern Highway, northeast of Perth. It was established in 1885 as a result of a gold rush at Halls Creek, and it is now a port and service centre for the east Kimberley with a...
- Koorda Drive-in Theatre, Koorda
South Australia
The Blue-Line drive-in located in West BeachWest Beach, South Australia
West Beach is a seaside suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in both the City of Charles Sturt and the City of West Torrens.-History:...
, Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
was the first drive-in located in South Australia, and the first to be constructed outside of Melbourne. It was opened on 28 December 1954, it was followed by the Mainline Drive-In theatre at Gepps Cross
Gepps Cross, South Australia
Gepps Cross is a suburb and major road intersection in the north of Adelaide, South Australia. Gepps Cross is traditionally seen as the end of the inner suburbs and the start of the outer northern suburbs, as it was home to a major abattoir with holding yards and other open space. It is the first...
on 7 October 1955, which was Australia's first drive-in / walk-in theatre (with a capacity for 500 cars and seating for 400 patrons). It was followed by the Shandon in Seaton
Seaton, South Australia
Seaton is a suburb in Adelaide, South Australia. It is located as one of western suburbs near West Lakes and Royal Park.-History:The first Seaton Post Office opened on 1 September 1965, renamed from Seaton Park; in 1991 it closed and was replaced by the second office renamed from Seaton...
in early July 1956, the Hi-Line in Springbank in March 1957, and the MGM Metro at Marion
Marion, South Australia
Marion is a suburb located in the City of Marion in Adelaide around 10 km south-west from the CBD. Founded as a rural village in 1838 on the banks of the Sturt River, Marion was found to have rich soil and the population expanded rapidly...
in June 1957. The first country drive-in opened at Port Pirie
Port Pirie, South Australia
-Transport:Port Pirie is located off National Highway One. It is serviced by an airport five minutes out of the city.- Railways :The first railways in Port Pirie were of the narrow [3' 6"] gauge....
in September 1957.
Following the closure of the Valleyline at St Agnes
St Agnes, South Australia
St Agnes is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is around 15 km northeast of the city centre. It is located in the City of Tea Tree Gully....
in May 2003 only the Wallis
Wallis Cinemas
Wallis Cinemas is a South Australian company that operates cinema complexes, cinemas and drive-ins in the city of Adelaide and its suburbs.-History:...
Mainline Drive-in at Gepps Cross is the only remaining drive-in located in metropolitan Adelaide. In the country areas, the closing of Riverview at Murray Bridge
Murray Bridge, South Australia
Murray Bridge is the fourth most populous city in South Australia after Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla. It is located east-southeast of Adelaide and north of Meningie....
in February 2005 (after 46 years) and the Riverland in Barmera
Barmera, South Australia
Barmera is a town in the Riverland region of South Australia. It is on the Sturt Highway A20, 220 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, the capital of the state of South Australia. It is primarily an agricultural and viticultural town and is located on Lake Bonney , a freshwater lake...
in September 2008, only the community run facility at Coober Pedy, the Coober Pedy Open Air Outback Cinema, remains.
- Desert Drive-in Theatre , Coober PedyCoober Pedy, South AustraliaCoober Pedy is a town in northern South Australia, 846 kilometres north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway. According to the 2006 census, its population was 1,916 . The town is sometimes referred to as the "opal capital of the world" because of the quantity of precious opals that are mined there...
- WallisWallis CinemasWallis Cinemas is a South Australian company that operates cinema complexes, cinemas and drive-ins in the city of Adelaide and its suburbs.-History:...
Mainline Drive-in Theatre , Gepps CrossGepps Cross, South AustraliaGepps Cross is a suburb and major road intersection in the north of Adelaide, South Australia. Gepps Cross is traditionally seen as the end of the inner suburbs and the start of the outer northern suburbs, as it was home to a major abattoir with holding yards and other open space. It is the first...
- The Wallis Mainline, which opened in October 1955, not only operates as a drive-in theatre but also as Gepps Cross Treasure Market on Sunday mornings.
Northern Territory
Darwin was home to the Paspalis (NightcliffNightcliff, Northern Territory
Nightcliff is a northern suburb of the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.-History:Although the origin of the name Nightcliff has always been surrounded by conjecture and controversy, the naming can be tracked back to 8 September 1839...
) Drive-in theatre which was the largest privately owned drive-in located in Australia, which was opened in 1965 and closed in 1985.
- None still open, although Darwin's Deckchair Cinema provides seats in an outdoor setting.
Tasmania
Tasmania previously had drive-in theatres at GlenorchyGlenorchy, Tasmania
Glenorchy is a business district and suburb in the northern part of greater Hobart, capital of the state of Tasmania, Australia. The land was originally used for agriculture but is now a largely suburban, working-class area...
and Warrane
Warrane, Tasmania
Warrane is a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, in the City of Clarence. It is approximately from Hobart's CBD. It is located between Rosny Park and Mornington and runs parallel to the Tasman Highway....
in Hobart, and in Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
, Devonport
Devonport, Tasmania
-Sport:The Devonport Football Club is an Australian Rules team competing in the Tasmanian Statewide League. The Devonport Rugby Club is a Rugby Union team competing in the Tasmanian Rugby Union Statewide League...
and Burnie
Burnie, Tasmania
- Sport :Australian rules football is popular in Burnie. The city's team is the Burnie Dockers Football Club in the Tasmanian State League.Rugby union is also played in Burnie. The local club is the Burnie Rugby Union Club. They are the current Tasmanian Rugby Union Statewide Division Two Premiers...
. The last of Tasmania’s drive-in theatres at Elwick and Mowbray
Mowbray, Tasmania
Mowbray is a suburb of Launceston in the Australian state of Tasmania, it also contains the minor suburbs of Mowbray Heights and Vermont.The name 'Vermont' was given to the area of Mowbray in about 1823 by William Effingham Lawrence, a famous Tasmanian pioneer and colonist...
closed in March 1985.
- None still open
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT had two drive-in theatres, the Starlight in WatsonWatson, Australian Capital Territory
Watson is a suburb of Canberra, Australia in the North Canberra district. Watson is named after the third Prime Minister of Australia, John Christian Watson. The suburb name was gazetted on 7 April 1960. Streets in Watson are named after Australian judges and other legal professionals...
(opened in January 1957 and closed in 1993), which has now been redeveloped for medium-density housing
Medium-density housing
Medium density housing is a term used in Australia to describe residential developments that are at higher densities than standard low-density, suburban subdivisions, but not so high that they might be regarded as high density housing. The density of standard suburban residential areas has...
, and the Sundown at Narrabundah
Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory
Narrabundah is a suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 'Narrabundah' is a Ngunnawal word meaning 'bird of prey', celebrated in the sculpture by Andy Townshend and Suzie Bleach, in the park opposite the main shops....
(opened in 1968 and closed in 1984) which is now a caravan park.
- None still open
External links
- - An Australian Drive-In Theatre Tribute site with much history and photos
- Drive-Ins of Western Australia
- Australian cinemas
- Cinema index : Melbourne cinemas, suburban cinemas, Victorian drive-ins Cinema & Theatre Historical Society (1997) Victoria
- Richard Kuipers' article about Australian Drive-In theatres, and their depiction in Australian films, on australianscreen