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THE CINEMAS OF MORUYA, NSW Researched by Gerry Kennedy
Finalised by the Editorial Team

he town of Moruya (pop: 3500) is The first locally owned show was started in uninterrupted projection for the first time.
Tsituated on the Princes Highway, 305 km about 1913 in the Mechanics Hall by local
south of Sydney on the NSW Far South Coast. businessman A.H. Weatherby. His generating Preddey later leased the Amusu to Martin
The town relies predominantly on agriculture, equipment was housed in a shed next to the Ryan (a travelling picture show man) until it
fishing and tourism. hall and it was said it could be heard for two was condemned and screenings were moved
or three miles on a quiet night. to the Mechanics Institute. The Amusu
In common with many similar sized towns reopened 7 July 1934, following a major
and villages, Moruya was visited by a number Mr. Weatherby later built an open air theatre revamp.
of travelling picture show men during the in Church St. which proved unsuccessful and
early years of the last century. Generally these was closed after a year or so. By this time, full Preddey approached Ken Annetts, the owner
screenings took place at either Mechanics length features had come into their own. of the Batemans' Bay Theatre, 25 km south
Institute in Page Street, of the Centennial Travelling shows continued to visit Moyura. of Moyura, to take over his cinema interests.
Hall in Queen Street.
Around 1917, Godfrey The striking facade of the Moruya Mechanics Institute
Three travelling picture showmen in Hanscom started regular
particular were regulars to the town. Joseph screenings in the
Check, a Mr Ambler and Dick Hooper trading Centennial Hall, trading
as Arcadia Pictures. All three appear to have as Electric Star Pictures.
favoured the small Mechanics Hall over the This show continued on
Centennial Hall. Saturday nights for a
couple of years.
Programmes in those days consisted of short
films, with a break between films to facilitate Shortly after the First
re-threading of the single projector. World War, A. H. Preddey
built the Amusu Theatre
in Vulcan Street, a timber
framed building with
cement sheet outer walls.
The first screening took
place to a full house on
21 December 1921. The
projection room was
equipped with two
secondhand Powers
projectors. Moruya then
experienced films with

14 CINEMARECORD # 94