Avalon Theatre, Hobart

The Avalon Theatre is a historic former Temperance Hall, theatre and cinema in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

This article is about the historic venue in Hobart, Tasmania. For other uses, see Avalon Theatre.

Avalon Theatre
Temperance Hall, Bijou Theatre
Avalon Theatre in 2023
Address52 - 54 Melville Street
Hobart, Tasmania
Australia
Coordinates42°52′50.06″S 147°19′27.97″E
OwnerHillsong Church[1]
Capacity700 (1890), 936 (1937), 927 (1951), 756 (1966)[2]
Construction
OpenedMay 1, 1890 (1890-05-01)
ClosedNovember 1976 (1976-11)
Years active1890–1976
ArchitectR. Flack Richards[3]
Place ID11,054[4]
StatusPermanently Registered

History

A ceremony for the foundation stone of a Temperance Hall was held on 21 March 1889 by the Tasmanian Temperance Alliance, which included members of the Society of Friends.[5][6] Opening 1 May 1890, the Temperance Hall was used for religious gatherings, tea drinking, live entertainment and family-focused activities.[7] Notably, the Temperance Hall was used for meetings surrounding Women's suffrage in Australia[8] and visited by Jessie Ackermann of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, who spoke at the hall in 1892.[9] As influence of the Temperance movement in Australia waned following The Great War, the venue was increasingly used for dances, skating and as a cinema projecting silent films.[10] The hall was eventually sold in 1922.[11]

Over the following decade, the venue operated as the Bijou Theatre showcasing pantomimes, boxing, travelling theatre productions and live music. Although the theatre was popular, the operators were allured by the larger profit margins found in cinema exhibition. Established by the Avalon Theatre Co Ltd, the independent theatre was remodelled and reopened as Hobart’s first talkie theatre, the Avalon Theatre on 11 March 1932.[12][13][14] The venue changed operators to Tasmanian Amusements Pty Ltd in 1934.[15] A Western Electric Mirrophonic sound system was installed at the cinema in 1937.[16]

Avalon Theatre circa 1975

Commencing with My Fair Lady, it became the city's only 70mm theatre in 1966. The Avalon was taken over by Village Cinemas in July 1969 and closed in November 1976, coinciding with the opening of their new West End Twin theatre on Collins Street. The Avalon operated as theatre for over 86 years, then as a Danny Bourke Electrical appliance store for over 30 years, closing in 2009.

Brunacci Avalon Market

Opening in February 2013, an indoor market called the Brunacci Avalon Market was held at the premises each Saturday and Sunday.[17][18] The market permanently closed in September 2017.[2]

Contemporary use

The Avalon Theatre featured in Open House Hobart programming in 2018.[19] The same year, the venue was used for concerts by House of Vnholy, Chrysta Bell and Rebekah Del Rio as part of Dark Mofo celebrations.[20][21][22]

Hillsong Church purchased the heritage-listed theatre for $2.55 million in 2020.[1] The theatre underwent renovations commencing in 2022.[23]

See also

List of theatres in Hobart

References
  1. Howard, Jessica (1 December 2020). "Hillsong Church puts forward plans for conversion of former Avalon Theatre in central Hobart". The Mercury (Hobart). Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  2. "Avalon Theatre 52 - 54 Melville Street, Hobart, TAS 7000". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  3. "NEW TEMPERANCE HALL". Daily Telegraph (Launceston). Vol. X, no. 104. Tasmania, Australia. 2 May 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 23 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Permanent and Provisional Registrations as at 22 Jan 2021" (PDF). Tasmanian Heritage Register. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  5. "NEW TEMPERANCE HALL, HOBART". Launceston Examiner. Vol. XLIX, no. 69. Tasmania, Australia. 21 March 1889. p. 3. Retrieved 23 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Laying Foundation Stone of Temperance Hall". The Colonist. Vol. II, no. XII. Tasmania, Australia. 23 March 1889. p. 21. Retrieved 23 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "OPENING OF TEMPERANCE HALL AT HOBART". The Tasmanian. Vol. XVII, no. 18. Tasmania, Australia. 3 May 1890. p. 25. Retrieved 23 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MEETING". The Mercury. Vol. LXIII, no. 7533. Tasmania, Australia. 20 April 1894. p. 3. Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Woman's Christian Temperance Union". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. LIX, no. 6, 900. Tasmania, Australia. 5 April 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "TEMPERANCE-HALL". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXI, no. 15, 603. Tasmania, Australia. 30 October 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Temperance Hall Sold". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. LXXX, no. 162. Tasmania, Australia. 10 July 1922. p. 5 (DAILY). Retrieved 23 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "AVALON THEATRE. The Official Opening". The Mercury. Vol. CXXXVI, no. 20, 154. Tasmania, Australia. 12 March 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 23 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ""The Avalon."". Huon Times. Vol. 22, no. 2269. Tasmania, Australia. 19 February 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 23 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "AVALON THEATRE. New Entertainment House. Interview With Manager". The Mercury. Vol. CXXXVI, no. 20, 140. Tasmania, Australia. 25 February 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 23 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "AVALON THEATRE SOLD". The Mercury. Vol. CXLI, no. 20, 941. Tasmania, Australia. 20 September 1934. p. 8. Retrieved 23 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "v. : ill. ; 32 cm.", Mirrophonic for Avalon, Hobart, Sydney: Everyones Ltd, 1920, nla.obj-569319700, retrieved 23 August 2022 – via Trove
  17. "1st Birthday: Brunacci Avalon Markets". Tasmanian Times. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  18. "Welcome to Brunacci Avalon Markets". Brunacci Avalon Markets. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  19. "Open House Hobart - Avalon Theatre". openhousehobart.org. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  20. "Lighting and environment design by House of Vnholy, Avalon Theatre, Hobart". Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  21. Francis, Hannah (25 June 2018). "The world of David Lynch descends on Dark Mofo". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  22. Hanson, Roger (24 June 2020). "'Making time stand still': Chrysta Bell and Rebekah Del Rio to take audience on emotional journey". The Mercury (Hobart). Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  23. Brownjohn-Moss, Katya-Rose (28 April 2022). "Dark Mofo organisers scrambling for venues". Sea FM (Devonport). Retrieved 24 May 2022.
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