Hoyts Cinema Centre
140 Bourke Street,
Melbourne,
VIC
3000
140 Bourke Street,
Melbourne,
VIC
3000
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The Cinema Centre was Australia’s first pupose built multi-screen cinema. It opened on 4th June 1969 with “Joanna”, “The Thomas Crown Affair” and “For Love of Ivy”. It was designed for Hoyts Cinemas chain by architect & architectural firm; Peter Muller of Sydney, with the architectural firm Bernard Evans & Partners as supervising architects. The interior decorations were by Neville Marsh of Sydney. Seating was originally provided in three auditoriums with seating capacities of 896, 832 and 738. There was a large main foyer, and each screen had its own individual foyer. The complex also boasted a cafe. Screens 1 & 2 were equipped for 70mm films, which were projected onto huge deeply curved screens. The largest auditorium, Cinema 3, had a balcony, whereas the other two screens were single floored.
In 1981, Screen 3 was subdivided, with the balcony becoming Screen 4. It was closed on 7th September 2005 when the new Hoyts Melbourne Central 11 opened on Swanston Street.
There were plans to convert to retail use, but it eventually was converted into a Virgin Active Gym, that opened in July 2008.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
Models and original drawings by architect Peter Muller, plus some vintage photographs here:
http://pmi.viewbook.com/20th_century_fox#/1/
All three cinemas were equipped to screen 70mm film and did so.
Cinema 3 was the smallest of the three theatres.
Submitted by Trevor Walters