Page 14 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

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By Frank Van Straten
By Frank Van Straten
When Mrs Elaine Marriner commissioned me to write a history of the Regent
Theatre Melbourne, I decided to find out something about the architect, Cedric H.
Ballantyne. To my surprise though much has been published about Ballantyne’s

theatre designs, there was no detailed overview of his life and career.

Because of space limitations, the piece I prepared for the book had to be
truncated, but here it is in its original form, updated and expanded. I have not
provided descriptions of Ballantyne’s projects, as much of this information is

already available. Instead, this is an account of the long, varied and productive
career of the man responsible for many of this country’s finest cinemas.

clectic, expansive, fun. These Ballantyne was the only successful At first, following Oakden’s death,
Ewords describe Melbourne’s candidate in the first Royal Institute of Ballantyne continued the practice
mighty Regent Theatre; they apply British Architects’ examinations in alone. He designed churches, offices,
equally to Cedric Heise Ballantyne, the 1902. Six years later he became a shops and, from 1910, private homes.
man who designed it. Fellow of the Royal Victorian Institute From 1921 to 1926 he worked in
BEGINNINGS of Architects. In 1906 Ballantyne partnership with engineer-architect
Cedric Ballantyne was born on 31 married Ruby Bell. They had one Henry Hare, and alone again until
May 1876 at Prahran, Victoria, where daughter, Elizabeth. 1933.
his Scottish-born father managed a With Percy Oakden, Ballantyne ENTER FRANCIS W. THRING.
bank. Cedric was educated at Kew worked on a wide variety of buildings. In 1920 Ballantyne built a
High School and Sydney Church of In 1908 they introduced to Melbourne handsome house for himself at 534
England Boys’ Grammar School the Craftsman-influenced, single- Toorak Road. After a short while he
(‘Shore’). When he was 16 he was ridged bungalow house. Typical sold it to Francis W. Thring, a director
articled to Percy Oakden, a senior examples, of which only a few remain, of Hoyts Theatres. ‘Rylands’ remained
Melbourne architect. He worked as featured eaves over-hanging to form the Thring family home for sixty
Oakden’s chief draughtsman until 1900 front and rear verandas, a dormer- years; it has recently been demolished.
when he was admitted to partnership windowed attic and stained and oiled, The Ballantynes and the Thrings
and the firm became known as Oakden rather than painted, weatherboards. became close friends. Through Thring,
and Ballantyne. The ‘Arts and Crafts’ interiors were Ballantyne met Sir George Tallis.
integral to the style of the buildings.
Tallis was involved in Hoyts and was
One of the partnership’s most
also chairman of the mighty J.C.
notable achievements was the four-
Williamson theatrical organisation.
storey ‘Arts and Crafts’ red brick and
The Tallis family lived in ‘Grosvenor’,
stone building for the New Zealand
a stately two-storey Victorian mansion
Loan & Mercantile Agency Building
on the corner of Glenferrie and Toorak
(1910). Now the headquarters of Primus
Roads, Toorak. In 1926 Tallis engaged
Telecom, it still stands proudly at 538-
Ballanytne to drastically ‘modernise’
544 Collins Street, on the King Street
the property inside and out.
corner. The partners were contracted to
‘Grosvenor’ was demolished in 1936
the Melbourne and Metropolitan Fire
and its extensive grounds were
Brigade and designed dozens of fire
subdivided for development.
stations in the city and suburbs. This
Though somewhat temperamental,
association survived Oakden’s death in
Ballantyne was generally ebullient and
1917 and continued until 1937.
effervescent. He loved good food and
Particularly notable was the fire station
good company. He and Thring
at 66-68 William Street, Hawthorn
numbered Norman Lindsay and his
(1910); the building now serves as the
entourage among their close friends.
Swinburne University of Technology’s
Ballantyne was a member of the Lawn
security offices.
Mr and Mrs Ballantyne Tennis Association and in 1923
14 2002 CINEMARECORD