Greater Union
Encyclopedia
Greater 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
. The cinemas are owned and operated in Australia by Village Roadshow-Amalgamated Holdings Limited (AHL) joint venture Australian Theatres
, in New Zealand by AHL, and in Fiji by a joint venture between AHL and local investors. The group has rebranded several of its premier Australian and New Zealand cinemas as Event Cinemas since 2009.
During the 1920s the organisation grew further, developing a relationship with Queensland
's Birch, Carroll & Coyle, a brand that Greater Union maintains to this day. The Great Depression
of the 1930s caused significant changes for the group. Union Theatres was liquidated, and its assets purchased by Greater Union Theatres. British Empire Films, the National Theatre Supply Co., and Cinesound all derived from 'Union Theatres and Australasian Films'.
In 1945 the Rank Organisation
purchased 50% of the now stable Greater Union Theatres. The name changed to 'Greater Union Organisation', or GUO in the 1950s, a time which saw the formation of strategic alliances with Hoyts
and the predecessor to Village Roadshow (1955 and 60) in order to exploit opening markets. GUO expanded by acquiring the MGM Theatres cinema chain in 1971, the Western Australia
based Ace Group in 1986, and completing their acquisition of Birch, Carroll & Coyle in 1991. The majority of the GUO sites are a joint venture with Village Cinemas (trading as: Australian Theatres). In NSW, ACT, QLD, SA and WA they trade under the GU and BCC brands but in Victoria under the Village banner. GUO has since expanded into Singapore
, and the United Arab Emirates
. acquired control from the Rank Organisation
in 1984, and continues to run the company today.
In 2003, AHL sold 50% of its Australian cinema operations to Village Roadshow in exchange for a partnership to form a joint venture, Australian Theatres
.
A recent development application to the City of Sydney for new signage for the George Street Cinemas, an expo for new employees in an area traditionally served by the Birch, Carol and Coyle brand and the launch of the V-Max brand (replacing G*MAX and including a new logo for Gold Class) was an indication that AHL planned to re-brand part of its operations under the "Event Cinemas" banner.
Event Cinemas opened at Castle Hill's Castle Towers
on 20 June 2009, replacing the old 6 screen complex built in 1993. It was architecturally designed by Sydney's INDYK Architects with five auditoriums and a bar. This new location, while marketed as "completely new", is functionally identical to other "Gold Class" locations in Greater Union and Birch, Carrol and Coyle cinemas. Since then Event Cinemas has been rolled out across the nation at premier sites.
Amalgamated Holdings purchased a chain of New Zealand
and Fiji
an cinemas from Skycity Entertinment Group in February 2010, having received New Zealand Government consent under the state's Overseas Investment Act. Event Cinemas New Zealand has previously operated as Skycity Cinemas under Skycity Entertainment Group
, Village Sky City under a Village Roadshow-Skycity Entertainment Group
joint venture, and Village Roadshow Cinemas under Village Roadshow ownership.
complexes.
there are numerous locations including:
, where its cinemas are branded as Birch Carroll & Coyle, except as stated. Locations include:
In Western Australia
, there are two locations:
The group also holds the lease to cinemas at Westfield Whitford City
and Lakeside Joondalup which are subleased to Grand Cinemas. The Innaloo site is Western Australia's largest cinema complex and includes four Gold Class screens and a function centre. Even though it is the largest complex in the state, it only has one more screen than Hoyts
Carousel, which has 15 screens.
.
, branded as Birch Carroll & Coyle:
, there is a single Greater Union cinema:
, there is one Greater Union cinema:
sub-complex. Other multiplexes are located at:
In addition, Events also co-owns metropolitan art-house cinema chain Rialto Cinemas with Reading Entertainment
, a chain which Village Roadshow, Rialto
and Skycity Entertainment Group
have all previously co-owned.
in several locations in Sydney
, Perth
, Brisbane including Sydney's CBD
location. As of December 2005, Hoyts and Greater Union have separated their joint ventures in these locations
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
across 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...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. The cinemas are owned and operated in Australia by Village Roadshow-Amalgamated Holdings Limited (AHL) joint venture Australian Theatres
Australian Theatres
Australian Theatres is a joint venture between Village Roadshow and AHL which operates over 30 cinema sites across Australia. The venture was formed in 2003 and includes cinemas under the Village Cinemas, Greater Union, Birch, Carrol and Coyle and Event Cinemas brands...
, in New Zealand by AHL, and in Fiji by a joint venture between AHL and local investors. The group has rebranded several of its premier Australian and New Zealand cinemas as Event Cinemas since 2009.
History
The story of Greater Union begins in 1910, when Thomas James West established West's Pictures. Over the next three years the company merged with other existing film distributors, first becoming 'the General Film Co of Australasia', then 'Union Theatres and Australasian Films'During the 1920s the organisation grew further, developing a relationship with 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...
's Birch, Carroll & Coyle, a brand that Greater Union maintains to this day. The Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
of the 1930s caused significant changes for the group. Union Theatres was liquidated, and its assets purchased by Greater Union Theatres. British Empire Films, the National Theatre Supply Co., and Cinesound all derived from 'Union Theatres and Australasian Films'.
In 1945 the Rank Organisation
Rank Organisation
The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. It was the largest and most vertically-integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities....
purchased 50% of the now stable Greater Union Theatres. The name changed to 'Greater Union Organisation', or GUO in the 1950s, a time which saw the formation of strategic alliances with 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...
and the predecessor to Village Roadshow (1955 and 60) in order to exploit opening markets. GUO expanded by acquiring the MGM Theatres cinema chain in 1971, the Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
based Ace Group in 1986, and completing their acquisition of Birch, Carroll & Coyle in 1991. The majority of the GUO sites are a joint venture with Village Cinemas (trading as: Australian Theatres). In NSW, ACT, QLD, SA and WA they trade under the GU and BCC brands but in Victoria under the Village banner. GUO has since expanded into Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. acquired control from the Rank Organisation
Rank Organisation
The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. It was the largest and most vertically-integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities....
in 1984, and continues to run the company today.
In 2003, AHL sold 50% of its Australian cinema operations to Village Roadshow in exchange for a partnership to form a joint venture, Australian Theatres
Australian Theatres
Australian Theatres is a joint venture between Village Roadshow and AHL which operates over 30 cinema sites across Australia. The venture was formed in 2003 and includes cinemas under the Village Cinemas, Greater Union, Birch, Carrol and Coyle and Event Cinemas brands...
.
A recent development application to the City of Sydney for new signage for the George Street Cinemas, an expo for new employees in an area traditionally served by the Birch, Carol and Coyle brand and the launch of the V-Max brand (replacing G*MAX and including a new logo for Gold Class) was an indication that AHL planned to re-brand part of its operations under the "Event Cinemas" banner.
Event Cinemas opened at Castle Hill's Castle Towers
Castle Towers
Castle Towers Shopping Centre, or known locally, simply as "Towers", is a large shopping centre in Castle Hill, New South Wales, Australia...
on 20 June 2009, replacing the old 6 screen complex built in 1993. It was architecturally designed by Sydney's INDYK Architects with five auditoriums and a bar. This new location, while marketed as "completely new", is functionally identical to other "Gold Class" locations in Greater Union and Birch, Carrol and Coyle cinemas. Since then Event Cinemas has been rolled out across the nation at premier sites.
Amalgamated Holdings purchased a chain of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an cinemas from Skycity Entertinment Group in February 2010, having received New Zealand Government consent under the state's Overseas Investment Act. Event Cinemas New Zealand has previously operated as Skycity Cinemas under Skycity Entertainment Group
SKYCITY Entertainment Group
Skycity Entertainment Group is a New Zealand corporation whose core business is owning and operating casinos in Australasia. It is the smallest of four major players operating in the market....
, Village Sky City under a Village Roadshow-Skycity Entertainment Group
SKYCITY Entertainment Group
Skycity Entertainment Group is a New Zealand corporation whose core business is owning and operating casinos in Australasia. It is the smallest of four major players operating in the market....
joint venture, and Village Roadshow Cinemas under Village Roadshow ownership.
V-Max
V-Max (written as Vmax) cinemas feature stadium style seating with a giant state-of-the-art 20m+ silver screens capable of showing the latest in digital 3D film product as well as all the latest blockbusters. Each V-Max cinema contains stadium style seating and extra leg room. These cinemas were previously branded as G-Max cinemas. V-Max cinemas can also be found at Village CinemasVillage Cinemas
Village 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...
complexes.
Gold Class
Gold Class cinemas have between 24 to 40 recliner seats and are offered at a premium rate. The seating is superior to a traditional cinema layout and the experience is complemented by a full bar service including an in-house menu. Food and drink are ordered prior to the screening and delivered at predetermined times during the movie. The experience is also offered at Village CinemasVillage Cinemas
Village 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...
Allocated Seating
At the beginning of 2008, allocated seating was rolled out in the majority of Greater Union and Birch Carroll & Coyle cinemas nationwide, which had much dislikeness by people. Tickets were sold online incurring an additional booking fee allowing patrons to purchase their ticket in advance. This initiative was launched under the banner Jump the Queue.Cine Buzz Club
The Cine Buzz Club is a loyalty programme exclusive to Greater Union, Birch Carroll & Coyle and Event Cinemas. Cine Buzz members are given a rewards card with unique number and are prompted to offer this number at the time of ticket purchase. Once ten movies are recorded against the Cine Buzz number a free movie is credited to the members' card.New South Wales
In New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
there are numerous locations including:
- Beverly Hills
- Blacktown Drive-In is Sydney's last Drive In Theater cinema complex. It comprises 2 screens featuring 35mm and 70mm projection, as well as Dolby Stereo Sound and is branded Greater Union.
- Bondi Junction is located at Westfield Bondi JunctionWestfield Bondi JunctionWestfield Bondi Junction is a large, upmarket shopping centre located in the suburb of Bondi Junction in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.The six-level complex, notable for its modern structure and retail mix, has several anchor tenants including David Jones and Myer department stores, Coles and...
and is branded as Event Cinemas. - Burwood, is branded as Event Cinemas.
- Campbelltown, is branded as Event Cinemas.
- Castle Hill MEGAPLEX, is branded as Event Cinemas.
- Coffs Harbour, is branded as Birch Carroll & Coyle.
- Cronulla
- George Street, a 16 screen complex in the CBDCentral business districtA central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
, located on George StreetGeorge Street, SydneyGeorge Street is one of Sydney's most notable city streets. There are more high rise buildings and more ASX 100 companies located here than anywhere else in Australia, and is well known for being busy around-the-clock...
and branded as Event Cinemas. - Glendale, located at Stockland GlendaleStockland GlendaleStockland Glendale is a major shopping centre located in Glendale, a suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia.It is located on Lake Road, Glendale, on a parcel of land, and primarily serves the Lake Macquarie region to the southwest of Newcastle.-History and...
, was launched as Greater Union, but was rebranded as Event Cinemas in 2011. - Hornsby, is located at Westfield HornsbyWestfield HornsbyWestfield Hornsby is a large shopping centre in the suburb of Hornsby, New South Wales. It is currently the oldest location in the Westfield chain, although the first mall was at Blacktown.-History:The original shopping centre was opened in 1961...
and is branded as Greater Union. - Hurstville, is located at Westfield HurstvilleWestfield HurstvilleWestfield Hurstville is a Westfield shopping centre in the southern suburb of Hurstville in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia at . Westfield Hurstville is the largest shopping centre in the St George area. It was officially opened in October 1978 by NSW Premier Neville Wran with 120 stores...
and is branded as Greater Union. - Lismore, is located in the Lismore town centre and is branded as Birch Carroll & Coyle.
- Liverpool, is located at Westfield LiverpoolWestfield LiverpoolWestfield Liverpool is a major shopping centre, located in Liverpool, a suburb of Sydney.-History and development:Westfield Liverpool was opened in 1971....
and was previously branded as Greater Union which is now Event Cinemas. - Macquarie MEGAPLEX, is branded as Event Cinemas, has three Gold Class cinemas, twelve Senstadium cinemas, as well as one new concept cinema Silverscreen cinema and bar.
- Miranda, is located at Westfield MirandaWestfield MirandaWestfield Miranda , owned and managed by the Westfield Group, is a large shopping centre in the suburb of Miranda in the Local Government Area of Sutherland Shire in southern Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia.-History:Miranda Fair was originally opened in 1964 and was purchased by...
and is branded as Greater Union. - Mosman, is branded as Greater Union.
- Newcastle, is branded as Greater Union.
- Parramatta, is located at Westfield ParramattaWestfield ParramattaWestfield Parramatta is a shopping centre in Parramatta, a city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The centre is owned and managed by The Westfield Group. It has a net leasable area of approximately 137,269m² and contains 488 shops built over five levels, making it Australia's fourth...
and is branded as Event Cinemas. - Top Ryde, is located at Top Ryde City Shopping CentreTop Ryde CityTop Ryde City is a shopping centre in Ryde, New South Wales. The centre occupies a 3.5 hectare block bounded by Blaxland Road, Devlin Street, Pope Street and Tucker Street. The centre has retail space of 78,125 square metres across 6 floors of commercial space.-Pre-2007 History:The original Top...
and is branded as Event Cinemas with 7 traditional cinemas and one V-max cinema with its own bar and lounge. - Shellharbour, is branded as Greater Union.
- Tuggerah, is located at Westfield TuggerahWestfield TuggerahWestfield Tuggerah is a shopping centre located at Tuggerah on the Central Coast of New South Wales approximately 5 km south of the Wyong CBD. The complex was constructed in 1995. The centre completed a large upgrade in 2005 and is now host to 245 stores plus an 8 cinema Greater Union complex,...
and is branded as Greater Union. - Wollongong, is located on Burelli Street, Wollongong and is branded Greater Union.
Queensland
The organisation has its greatest presence in QueenslandQueensland
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...
, where its cinemas are branded as Birch Carroll & Coyle, except as stated. Locations include:
- Australia Fair Cinema, located at Australia Fair Shopping CentreAustralia Fair Shopping CentreLocated in Southport Queensland, Australia Fair Shopping Centre is the major shopping centre in the administrative centre of the Gold Coast. It includes majors such as Coles, Kmart, Woolworths and The Warehouse and over 230 specialty stores. It has two food courts and one overlooks The Broadwater...
- Brisbane City Myer Centre, located at the Myer CentreThe Myer Centre, BrisbaneThe Myer Centre is located between the Queen Street Mall and Elizabeth Street in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is an nine-floor shopping complex which includes Queensland's largest Myer department store, and is open to the public seven days a week. The Myer Centre has the added benefit of...
on Elizabeth Street - Brisbane City Regent
- Browns Plains
- Cairns Central
- Cairns City
- Cairns Earlville
- Capalaba
- Carindale
- Chermside MEGAPLEX, located at Westfield ChermsideWestfield ChermsideWestfield Chermside is the largest shopping centre in Queensland, located in Brisbane's inner northern suburbs, the second-largest in Australia, behind Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne, and is operated by the Westfield Group. Entertainment facilities include an Event Cinemas 16-screen cinema...
and branded as Event Cinemas - Coolangatta
- Garden City Mount Gravatt, located at Westfield Garden CityWestfield Garden CityWestfield Garden City, better known as Garden City, is one of Brisbane's major shopping centres, located in the suburb of Upper Mount Gravatt. The centre is operated by Westfield, and previously operated by AMP Limited before the takeover in 2003...
- Indooroopilly MEGAPLEX, branded as Event Cinemas
- Ipswich
- Mackay City
- Mackay Mount Pleasant
- Maroochydore, Sunshine PlazaSunshine PlazaSunshine Plaza is a large regional shopping centre located in Maroochydore, Queensland. Major retailers included in the centre are Coles, Woolworths, Myer, Kmart, Target, Homeart, and a 12-screen Birch Carroll & Coyle cinema...
- Morayfield
- Pacific Fair
- Robina, located at Robina Town CentreRobina Town CentreRobina Town Centre is a large shopping centre covering in the suburb of Robina, Queensland with over 350 retail outlets covering over . - History :...
and branded as Event Cinemas - Rockhampton North
- Strathpine, located at Westfield StrathpineWestfield StrathpineWestfield Strathpine is a regional shopping centre located in Strathpine, a suburb in Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane.The centre was built and opened in 1983 by The Westfield Group. It is anchored by Big W and Target discount department stores, Woolworths supermarket, Coles supermarket and ALDI Food...
- Toowoomba Grand Central
- Toowoomba Strand
- Townsville Cinemas
Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, there are two locations:
- InnalooInnaloo, Western AustraliaInnaloo 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....
, branded as Event Cinemas, and - MorleyMorley, Western AustraliaMorley 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...
, at Centro GalleriaCentro GalleriaCentro Galleria is a super-regional shopping centre located in Morley, Western Australia, about northeast of Perth's central business district. The Galleria is the second largest retail centre in Perth...
, branded as Greater Union.
The group also holds the lease to cinemas at Westfield Whitford City
Westfield Whitford City
Westfield Whitford City is a major shopping centre, owned by the Westfield Group and located in Hillarys, a suburb of Perth. It is located approximately 18 kilometres north west of the Perth CBD on Marmion Avenue. In 2006, it had an annual turnover of A$395.4 million and approximately 7.2 million...
and Lakeside Joondalup which are subleased to Grand Cinemas. The Innaloo site is Western Australia's largest cinema complex and includes four Gold Class screens and a function centre. Even though it is the largest complex in the state, it only has one more screen than 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...
Carousel, which has 15 screens.
South Australia
There are currently two cinemas located in South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
- Arndale, located in the suburb of KilkennyKilkennyKilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
is branded as Greater Union. - Marion MEGAPLEX, located at Westfield MarionWestfield MarionWestfield Marion is the largest shopping complex in Adelaide, South Australia. The centre, its management and all tenant addresses are located in the suburb of Oaklands Park...
and branded as Event Cinemas. It opened as Greater Union in 1997, after Westfield Marion underwent a major renovation. In late 2003 to early 2004, Megaplex Marion underwent renovations, which resulted in 7 of the small cinemas being converted in to 3 Gold Class cinemas, capable of seating up to 90 people, 30 in each cinema. In March 2009, Marion Megaplex underwent further renovation to include two V-Max Cinemas and was re-branded as Event Cinemas.
Northern Territory
There are two cinemas located in the Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, branded as Birch Carroll & Coyle:
- Casuarina, located at Casuarina Square Shopping Centre, and
- Darwin, located in the city on the cnr Mitchell & Briggs Streets.
Victoria
In VictoriaVictoria (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....
, there is a single Greater Union cinema:
- Melbourne City Cinema, located on Russell StreetRussell Street, MelbourneRussell Street is a north-south street in the central business district of Melbourne, Australia, part of the Hoddle Grid laid out in 1837. At its southern end it intersects with Flinders Street and Federation Square, while at its northern end it becomes Lygon Street, a street famous for its...
, in the MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne 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...
City Centre.
ACT
In CanberraCanberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, there is one Greater Union cinema:
- ManukaManuka, Australian Capital TerritoryManuka is an area in the Inner South district of Canberra, Australia covering parts of the suburbs of Griffith and Forrest. Manuka Shops, Manuka Oval, Manuka Swimming Pool, and Manuka Circle take their name from the park in the area.- Origin of name :...
Cinemas. A previous location in Civic closed late 2007 to make way for rival cinema chain, Dendy, which opened at the Canberra Centre around the same time.
New Zealand
Event Cinemas New Zealand owns 106 cinema screens in 14 multiplexes across New Zealand. The brand was launched with live 3D screenings of FIFA World Cup 2010 matches, and Amalgamated Holdings promises to introduce 3D screens to all cinemas by 2011 and to make all screens digital by 2013. New Zealand's most visited cinema multiplex and the chain's New Zealand flagship is located at Skycity Metro on Auckland’s Queen Street and features New Zealand’s largest cinema screen as part of an IMAXIMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
sub-complex. Other multiplexes are located at:
- BroadwayAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
- Westfield Manukau CityWestfield Manukau CityWestfield Manukau City is a major shopping centre located in South Auckland, New Zealand, near the intersection of the Auckland Southern Motorway and Southwest Motorway, south-southeast of the Auckland CBD....
- Westfield St LukesWestfield St LukesWestfield St Lukes is one of the big three shopping centres in the western suburbs of Auckland, New Zealand, and is located on St Lukes Road. It receives about 6 million shopper visits annually. With 43,000 m² gross floor area , it features a Farmers, K mart, Foodtown, a Village SKYCITY 8 screen...
- Westfield WestCityWestfield WestCityWestfield WestCity is a major regional shopping centre located in Henderson, a suburb of Waitakere, Auckland, New Zealand, west of the Auckland CBD...
- Centreplace MallHamilton, New ZealandHamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
- Westgate
- Westfield QueensgateWestfield QueensgateWestfield Queensgate is the largest shopping centre in the Wellington Region, New Zealand. Commonally known just as 'Queensgate' The centre underwent a large scale development that was completed in August 2006.The centre features:...
- The EmbassyWellingtonWellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
- Westfield ChartwellWestfield ChartwellWestfield Chartwell is a shopping centre located on a site in the suburb of Chartwell, north of Hamilton, New Zealand. The shopping centre is informally referred to as "Chartwell Square" by many Hamilton residents, as this was its name before The Westfield Group took over ownership.-History and...
- Westfield AlbanyWestfield AlbanyWestfield Albany is a new shopping centre of the Westfield Group in Albany, New Zealand, opposite the Albany Lakes Civic Park. Once the last sections opened in April 2008, at 7 ha of indoor space , it became the largest shopping centre in New Zealand, eclipsing even recently opened Sylvia Park,...
- WhangareiWhangareiWhangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
- New PlymouthNew PlymouthNew Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
In addition, Events also co-owns metropolitan art-house cinema chain Rialto Cinemas with Reading Entertainment
Reading Entertainment
Reading Entertainment is a movie theater company which is part of Reading International, Inc., successor to the Reading Company, whose railroad properties were conveyed to government-owned Conrail in 1976. Most of its operations are in Australia, New Zealand, and United States under the Reading...
, a chain which Village Roadshow, Rialto
Rialto
The Rialto is and has been for many centuries the financial and commercial centre of Venice. It is an area of the San Polo sestiere of Venice, Italy, also known for its markets and for the Rialto Bridge across the Grand Canal....
and Skycity Entertainment Group
SKYCITY Entertainment Group
Skycity Entertainment Group is a New Zealand corporation whose core business is owning and operating casinos in Australasia. It is the smallest of four major players operating in the market....
have all previously co-owned.
Greater Union and Hoyts
Greater Union had previously ran in partnership with HoytsHoyts
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...
in several locations in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth 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....
, Brisbane including Sydney's CBD
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
location. As of December 2005, Hoyts and Greater Union have separated their joint ventures in these locations
See also
- Australian TheatresAustralian TheatresAustralian Theatres is a joint venture between Village Roadshow and AHL which operates over 30 cinema sites across Australia. The venture was formed in 2003 and includes cinemas under the Village Cinemas, Greater Union, Birch, Carrol and Coyle and Event Cinemas brands...
- Regent Cinemas
- Reading Cinemas
- The Movie Masters Cinema GroupThe Movie Masters Cinema GroupGrand Cinemas and Ace Cinemas are a Western Australian chain of cinema multiplexes. They are operated by The Movie Masters cinema group.-History:...
- Village CinemasVillage 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...
- Wallis CinemasWallis CinemasWallis Cinemas is a South Australian company that operates cinema complexes, cinemas and drive-ins in the city of Adelaide and its suburbs.-History:...
- Warner Village CinemasWarner Village CinemasWarner Village Cinemas UK was a chain of multiplex cinemas operated by Warner Brothers in the United Kingdom. Created in November 1996, it was a joint venture between Warner Bros.Intl. Theatres and Village Roadshow Australia. In the UK the chain was subsequently purchased by SBC International...