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Rivoli Theatre 71 Gilbert Road, Preston, VIC

Here we see the entrance to the upstairs lounge. To the right are the original projection ports.

The only theatre building remaining in Preston is the Rivoli at 71-75 Gilbert Road (on the corner of Oakover Road).

The Rivoli was opened on 16 November, 1935 at a gathering of 150 people by the Mayor of Preston, Cr. Harry Swain, built by Preston Theatres Pty. Ltd. and leased to Messrs King, Guest and Luxton, also from 1938 the operators of the Gowerville after it was re-opened.

The building cost £5,300 and seating and fittings £2,000, but Preston Theatres Ltd. appear to have fallen into financial difficulties and the theatre was auctioned by receivers in October, 1937, bringing a price of £9,650.

It was noted the sale was subject to a five-year lease, rental £17/10 per week but to rise to £20 the following year. It was suggested the theatre accommodated about 900, two shops were included with a frontage of 64ft 5in to Gilbert Road and a depth of 110 feet.

The lessees operated the theatre until 1958 when it was transferred to O’Halloran Theatres of Swan Hill before closing later the same year.

After it had ceased operation and the building was used as offices and a warehouse, the first tenants being the Austral Jewel Case Company.

That functionality continues today and parts of a refurbishment circa 1950 are retained; the auditorium interior has some well-preserved detailing, the upper balcony still has seats, and a screen remains above the warehouse section. Much of the upper level is converted into a residential apartment.

A small reserve (significantly the Harry Swain Reserve) behind the old theatre was used in the 1950s by a local junior football team. Originally known as the Preston Boys club in the late 1940s, it adopted the theatre’s name around 1950 and became the Rivoli Stars, boasting amongst their “Stars”, later Collingwood premiership captain and club legend, Murray Weideman.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -