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The Longford

A CINEMA OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

By Brian Mier

After 26 years of
entertainment, another
chapter in Melbourne’s rich
cinema history has drawn
to a close.
The Longford Cinema is
situated at 59 Toorak
Road, in the Melbourne
suburb of South Yarra. It
closed on 25 July 2001.

ORIGINS: The Longford Cinema was opened
The premises at 59 Toorak Road on Thursday, 17 August 1976 by the
had been used for entertainment then Premier of Victoria, Hon. Rupert
continuously since 1890. Originally Hamer. It was named after Raymond
opened as a Music Hall, the premises Longford, a major Australian film by the Australian Film Institute and
operated in that role or as a night club pioneer who directed many early The Longford opened on schedule.
continuously to 1974. In its last three Australian films including ‘The There was a certain amount of hasty
lives as such, it was the Playboy Sentimental Bloke’. The first film ‘patching up’ of things, however.
Nightclub – the first of that name in screened at The Longford was John The AFI screened films
Australia and highly controversial at Duigan’s ‘The Trespassers’, a film continuously until 1984 when, finding
the time – then the Embers, (which made in Victoria. The first Manager it difficult to run the cinema on a
burnt down), then the Winston was Dave Thomas (now working with profitable basis, it decided to
Charles, which also burnt down in late the Melbourne International Film relinquish its lease. A more detailed
1974 or 1975. Festival). The original Architect was history of the AFI’s involvement at
The owner of the Winston Charles Darryl Fisher. The Longford will be covered in a
premises then constructed a purpose- Just before the scheduled opening separate article.
built cinema of approximately 300 in 1975, the builder absconded with OWNERSHIP
seats on the site. The Australian Film funds leaving significant works Ms Natalie Miller, Director of
Institute (AFI) negotiated the lease of unfinished such as the front stairs and Sharmill Films (a Melbourne film
the theatre. entry. Re-funding was quickly obtained distribution company), had long felt
there was a need for a cinema which
was orientated towards screening new
Australian films as well as selected
overseas films which were unlikely to
find favour and appear on the
commercial movie circuit. She
negotiated the lease and became the
owner of The Longford later that year
with 50% of the interest, together with
Andrew Pike of Ronin Films and
Michael Walsh, formerly of the
Brighton Bay Twin Cinemas. Pike
subsequently bought out Walsh, and in
1992 Pike sold his interests to Natalie
Miller who thus became the sole
proprietor. Her other cinema interest is
in Cinema Nova, in Carlton. She was
also the first female film distributor in

8 2002 CINEMARECORD