Page 15 - CinemaRecord #79

The Australian Hall saw such luminaries as
the Salvationist lecturer William Booth (1900),
Banjo Patterson (1902), and Dame Nellie Melba
(1907). Gradual improvements to its theatrical
facilities included a large stage and fly-tower.

The venue regularly screened films in 1906
and soon became the Orange home of Empire
Pictures. Further improvements were completed
by late 1914 when it was transformed into a
“theatre deluxe” by way of installation of a
unique sliding roof which could be opened to
cool the auditorium or closed during inclement
weather.
The halls continued operation by Empire Pictures The 1920s also saw the theatre remodelled into
lead to the adoption of the name Empire Theatre a cinema along more modern lines and the name
for some time. The Empire name was retained Australia Picture Theatre was adopted to
even when it briefly became part of the Union reflect these changes.
Theatres circuit in the early 1920s. Two side staircases led to an upstairs foyer and a
large projection suite was built at the rear of the
dress circle. A staircase also directly linked the
rewind area to the first floor foyer.
The Australia in 1928 with proprietor JH Hamilton.

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