State Cinema, North Hobart

After extensive renovations, the venue re-opened as the Liberty Theatre on 29 June 1935 by the Lord Mayor of Hobart Mr. J. J. Wignall with The Gay Divorcee and We're Rich Again.[4] The cinema was remodelled in an Art Deco appearance, with an Australian-made Raycophone sound system and locally made finishes such as lampshades, woodwork and curtains showcasing Tasmanian craftsmanship. Alterations were also made to the facade, including affixing large neon lighting and stylised burning torches. Wall decorations were designed by Mr. G. Harrex, lamp shades were supplied by Trowbridge and Co., the woodwork undertaken by Crisp and Gunn Co-operative Ltd., and the stage curtain by Modern Art Furnishers. The architect for the alterations was Mr. A. Lauriston Crisp.[5]

On 18 August 1948 it was re-named State Theatre.[6]

State Cinema undergoing renovations in 1970

Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam attended the grand re-opening of the State Cinema after it was purchased by the government-funded Australian Film Institute in 1976.[7][8] The State Cinema hosted the premiere of Manganinnie, the first feature length film produced by the Tasmanian Film Corporation in August 1980. The premiere was attended by actors Mawuyul Yanthalawuy and Anna Ralph, as well as the Governor of Tasmania Sir Stanley Burbury and Tasmanian Premier Doug Lowe.[9]

In the 1980s, the Hobart Film Society curated weekly exhibitions for the State Cinema as part of the AFI Cinémathèque circuit. The society projected mostly classic and foreign language films, including Jesus of Montreal, Wings of Desire, and The Killing Fields, which included a question and answer (Q & A) session with actor Haing S. Ngor, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia and the only actor of Asian descent to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor until 2022.[10]

In 1994, Dutch-Australian film director Paul Cox premiered his film Exile at the State Cinema, which was followed by a Q & A.[11]

The State was purchased by North Hobart businessman John Kelly in 2002. Extra screens were added in 2006, and by 2014 it had eight screens, and offered over 700 seats, plus a roof-top cinema and bar.[12]

A star on the footpath of the State Cinema was added to commemorate the 100th birthday of Tasmanian actor Errol Flynn on 20 June 2009. It was unveiled by his daughter Rory Flynn and grandson Sean Flynn.[13]

American actor Willem Dafoe attended the Tasmanian premiere of The Hunter at a red carpet event held at the State Cinema in 2011.[14][15] Director Daniel Nettheim and Tasmanian premier Lara Giddings were also in attendance.[16]

On 5 April 2012, Tasmanian author Richard Flanagan officially opened the State Cinema Bookstore at the site.

A special red carpet charity event for the premiere of Lion was attended by the film's subject, Saroo Brierley and his family at the State in December 2016.[17]

In 2019, the State Cinema had 11 screens in operation, including a rooftop cinema, cafe, bar and bookstore.