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NORTHCOTE THEATRE (Northcote, Melbourne)
AUSTRALIAN VARIETY THEATRE ARCHIVE: RESEARCH NOTES
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(1912-1960) 212-220 High Street (corner of Bastings Street)
Although built as a cinema, the Northcote Theatre was also designed to accommodate live theatre, and it did this at
various times throughout its almost fifty years of operations. Variety acts are recorded as being included as betweenfilms entertainment from 1914. Management also presented occasional stand-alone vaudeville programmes and in
later years it was used for other theatrical entertainments, including the 1952 musical comedy Night Club (adapted
from the 1938 film Show Business). The first owner, Northcote Theatre Company, comprised local businessmen and
directors from Melbourne-based film company Amalgamated Pictures. Victorian cinema pioneer Robert McLeish is
identified as the theatre's manager in 1915. It became part of the Hoyts chain when McLeish later joined the company.
► See also: Robert McLeish
NB 1: A number of secondary sources record that Robert McLeish either built and/or opened the Northcote Theatre
(see below for examples). In a report on the opening for its 28 June edition, the Argus fails to mention McLeish,
however. The article identifies the theatre's directors as A. M. Lonie (chairman), W. A. Gibson (Amalgamated
Pictures Ltd), R. J. Whalley, and B.E. Johnson, with W. S. Stott recorded as secretary. The theatre was officially
opened by the Mayor, H. E. Bastings, with Mr J. Perry (General Manager, Amalgamated Pictures) also involved in the
speeches. Interestingly McLeish's name appears not to have been linked publically with the theatre until 26 February
1914, and then only as a performer. He is first identified as the theatre's manager on 5 September that year [see below for
further details]
NB 2: Most secondary sources also record the theatre was designed either by Edward Twentyman Jnr or Frank G.
Richardson. The Argus (27 June) records, however, that three architects were involved, Messrs Twentyman, Askew
and Richardson.
marvmelb.blogspot.com
•
2005
Darebin Heritage
Built in 1912, The Northcote Theatre is almost certainly the oldest cinema building in Melbourne. Like many
silent era cinemas, it was initially used for live shows as well as movie projection. When the original owner of the
building, Robert McLeish, joined Hoyts as Victorian Executive Chairman, the Northcote was added to their
stable. In 1952 the cinema was used as the setting for the local musical comedy Night Club. The cinema closed in
1960 and the building is now used as a reception centre.
"Melbourne's Hidden Suburban Cinemas." Beside the Yarra.... Stories from Melbourne's History [sighted 25/01/2015]
•
Established at 216 High Street (the corner of High Street and Bastings Street) in June 1912 by the Northcote
Picture Theatre Company, it was opened by Robert McLeish who remained its general manager while he became
as well, the President of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association and Chairman of the Hoyts Victorian
Executive. It was designed by local architect, Edward Twentyman, jnr. and remains perhaps the earliest surviving
picture theatre designed in Victoria. It possessed a balcony, stalls, its own electricity generator and a stage which
was adaptable for vaudeville. It was the first building to be lighted by electricity. Amalgamated Pictures Ltd
supplied the theatre with its silent cinema and the Northcote Mayoral ball was held there in late 1912. It later
became part of the Hoyts' chain of cinemas. While it was operating as a cinema, it was used as the setting for the
film "Night Club" in 1952. The cinema closed in 1960.
Having been used as a dance studio, it is now used as a Reception Centre, and was used as a pilot for Darebin
Council's facade restoration program in 1996. It had been extensively restored inside by the owners and
refurbishments strictly considered original character.
Sources
Cinema survey.
Butler, Graeme (1983). City of Northcote Urban Conservation Study.
Northcote Leader. December 4, 1996.
Pike, Andrew and Cooper, Ross Australian Film 1900-1977 (1981).
Northcote Theatre Darebin Heritage [sighted 25/01/2015]
High Street, Northcote (Northcote Theatre near right)
Darebin Heritage
http://heritage.darebinlibraries.vic.gov.au/archiveimage/2663
•
The Northcote Theatre, built in 1912, and designed by early cinema architect F.G. Richardson, is of State
significance for its historical, social and architectural values.
Historically, it is significant as the oldest purpose built cinema surviving largely intact in Melbourne. It is also
amongst the few to survive in any form from the earliest period of cinema construction in Victoria before WWI.
The Barkly Theatre, Footscray, is the most comparable cinema, opening two years after the Northcote in 1914.
It is significant for its association with Robert McLeish, who operated a number of companies and cinemas in
Melbourne in the 1910s, and who was remembered as "the father of the Victorian Motion Picture Industry" when
he died in October 1953. The theatre is also important for its association with the architect, F.G. Richardson who
designed a number of the early cinemas in Melbourne, of which only the Northcote survives.
Architecturally, the facade of the Northcote Theatre is notable as an early example of what became a typical
format for cinemas, namely the use of classically derived, but simple and flat applied decoration, with a central
arch as the main focus. The removal of the original cast-iron verandah is unfortunate, but does not detract from its
significance. The relatively plain interior is notable for being substantially unaltered, and the dress circle, which
retains some seating, is one of the earliest to demonstrate the cantilever principle of construction.
Socially, the Theatre is important for its association with cinema, by far the most popular form of entertainment in
the early twentieth century, and provided entertainment to the people of Northcote for 40 years.
"Former Northcote Theatre." National Trust Heritage Database (Classified: 08/11/1999 ) [sighted 25/01/2015]
The following research notes are for the period 1912-1917 only.
1912
Argus 27 June (1912), 10.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/383845
Argus 28 June (1912), 8.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/11687486
1914
Northcote Leader 21 Feb. (1914), 5.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/14960630
Preston Leader 13 June (1914), 4.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/8575276
Northcote Theatre 22 Aug. (1914), 5.
"Northcote City Council: Monday 24 August."
Northcote Leader 29 Aug. (1914), 6.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/14960797
Northcote Leader 5 Sept. (1914), 3.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/14960799
Northcote Leader 26 Dec. (1914), 4.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/14960895
1915
Preston Leader 25 Feb. (1915), 4.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/8574522
Preston Leader 27 Mar. (1915), 2.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/8574545
Northcote Leader 9 Jan. (1915), 2.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/13602845
Northcote Leader 7 Aug. (1915), 2.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/13603029
1916
Preston Leader 24 June (1916), 2.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/8574949
1917
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/8575634
Misc
Andrea Jackson 25 June 2012
cont…
http://www.theweeklyreview.com.au/release/1823437-on-screen-revival#.VMatGC5KXfc
http://happytoserveyou.com.au/NORTHCOTE-THEATRE-S-100TH-BDAY
Australian Variety Theatre Archive: Research Notes
Published by Clay Djubal: 1/02/2015
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