Page 6 - CinemaRecord #83

The THEATRE ROYAL

CAMPERDOWN

By Richard Twentyman

Original Mechanics Institute in foreground, and Theatre Royal at rear

any of us have travelled the Princes and (c) the McCabe Meeting Room and Sports foyer is the ticket box, also identified with a
MHighway to reach destinations in the Stadium. similar leadlight, bearing the word “Tickets” in
Western District of Victoria. Located on the red glass. Beside the ticket box, a wide stairway
highway, 120km west of Geelong, is the neat The Theatre Royal was built in 1927/1928 at leads to the balcony, with access to the
and attractive town of Camperdown, nestled in a cost of £7193 to replace the fire-damaged, projection room and balcony foyer being
a magnificent volcanic landscape on the lower outmoded hall which was located behind the through a doorway in the auditorium rear wall.
slopes of Mount Leura. Together with Mount Camperdown Mechanics Institute. (The At the time of inspection, it appeared that the
Sugarloaf, these form part of a large extinct Mechanics Institute was designed by Architect balcony foyer is not used as such, because of
volcanic complex known as the “Leura Maar”. Alex Hamilton, and built in 1890.) The Theatre the presence of a number of items of
Entering the town, the first thing to catch the
eye is the magnificent Gothic style clock tower.
The tower sits in the centre of the Avenue of
Elms, which was planted in 1876. The tower
itself was built in 1897 at a cost of £1300,
stands 100 feet tall, and is regarded as the finest
free-standing clock tower in Australia. Three
drums in the clock are wound weekly by the
local Rotary Club. There are five levels in the
tower, with three bells on the second floor, the
two smaller ones sounding on the quarter hour,
and the large bell on the hour. The third floor
houses the clock mechanism.

Camperdown also has a well-equipped, multi-
purpose entertainment venue at the corner of
Manifold and Bath Streets. The venue is made
up of three main areas: (a) The Theatre Royal,
with its adjoining multi-use meeting areas; (b)
the Killara Complex, including library, Senior
Citizens functions room and activities rooms;
Original Mechanics Institute facade

Royal was built by Footscray contractors Cant gymnasium equipment. The balcony has fixed
& Bennet to the Free Classical Revival designs seating for 193, with movable seating for 200
of local architect Warburton Pierre (Perry) downstairs for films, and up to 300 downstairs
Knights. The stage and fly tower were erected for live productions.
earlier, thought to be in around 1913, so
presumably were linked to the Mechanics The balcony rail is comprised of a central
Institute building by the timber hall which was straight section, parallel to the proscenium,
damaged by fire in 1927. The Theatre Royal with curved section either side. The stage side
was officially opened on 12 April 1928 by the of the centre section of the balcony rail bears a
President of the Shire of Hampden, Mr. D S motif with the letter “I” behind the letter “M”,
Oman. the sign of a Mechanics Institute building. The
proscenium arch has straight top and sides, and
A striking curved canopy shelters the main is flanked by pairs of ionic columns, identical
entry from Bath Street, with two pairs of ionic to those outside the front entry. The interior
style columns sitting on substantial pedestals colour scheme is a combination of cream and
framing the entry porch. Above the entry, an ochre, with the decorative motifs highlighted
attractive leadlight feature bears the word in a deep red.
“Theatre”, with three moulded owls standing
Ticket Box with ornate leadlighting guard over the sign. Standing to the right in the

6 CINEMARECORD # 83