Victoria Theatre

48-56 Victoria Road,
Devonport 1309

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The Victoria Theatre is the oldest surviving purpose-built cinema in the Southern Hemisphere. It first opened in 1912. The Victoria Theatre Trust have now purchased the building and renovated to bring it back into the film business, as well as running live theatre. It re-opened on 26th October 2010.

Contributed by Christine Valverde

Recent comments (view all 8 comments)

lostmemory
lostmemory on December 1, 2004 at 6:17 am

The Victoria Cinema is listed as opening in 1925 with 965 seats. The address given is: 48-56 Victoria Rd. Auckland, New Zealand.

Christine
Christine on December 27, 2004 at 1:05 am

The Vic originally opened on 26 October, 1912; I have a photo showing a group of people holding up a banner which includes the date.

There is some confusion because of a fire in 1924; the roof, the projection area and part of the interior were rebuilt, which took about a year. Films were shown at an alternate site until repairs could be made. Also, there is a chair from the original theatre still being stored in the theatre building. If the fire had been complete, I’m pretty sure chairs wouldn’t have survived.

lostmemory, I have been researching and writing a history of The Vic for months. It’s to be used as a fundraiser if I can come up with the cash to have it published. If you have info, I would appreciate it if you would forward it to me at It would be really embarrassing to spend my savings account to have a fundraiser published and be wrong!

Cheers.

Christine
Christine on January 15, 2005 at 6:13 am

LostMemry, I am looking for further info and would like to get your input but you list no e-mail address or other contact info. Please e-mail me with any info you have.

lostmemory
lostmemory on January 15, 2005 at 8:18 am

CV….You are correct about the Victoria opening in 1912. I’ll email you right after I finish here.

mrt1924
mrt1924 on April 10, 2005 at 3:17 pm

I think this theatre is situated accross the road from the old State Theatre (which was used as an Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses for many years I understand that is a cinema once again)

I was wondering is my comment correct?

Christine
Christine on April 11, 2005 at 11:00 pm

yup same one

lostmemory
lostmemory on August 4, 2007 at 12:17 pm

This is a photo of the Victoria Theater.

lostmemory
lostmemory on April 9, 2009 at 8:20 pm

Here is another photo.

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