CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

The land for the Regent Theatre was bought in 1934 by Herbert Jones, founding director of South Coast Theatres Ltd, and an application for the licencing of a picture theatre put before the Chief Secretary the following year. However, due to a series of “industrial, financial and political” considerations by the end of the decade work had yet to commence (Jones quoted in Parkinson 1995, 33). The venture was ultimately postponed until the early 1950s. Throughout the intervening period, Herbert and wife Emily ran the successful Civic Theatre located at the Town Hall (Parkinson 1995, 25 – 27; Huggett 2002, 51).

Building commenced on the Regent in February 1950 but the venture continued to progress slowly with the elaborate 1500 seat theatre not being completed until late 1956. Thorne et.al. (1996) note that in the 1950s with the apparent threat of television looming it was unusual for a cinema to be built with a seating capacity of this magnitude. The Jones’ confidence however was rewarded. The theatre flourished from its opening day 26th December 1956. Between 1965 and 1976, when Greater Unions Crown Triple Cinemas commenced trade, the Regent was the only venue where motion pictures were screened in the city centre of Wollongong (Parkinson 1995, pp. 41 – 42).

CinemaScope was introduced in 1961.

Despite the Regent’s continuing popularity with audiences the theatre came under threat in 2002 when a Wollongong-based development company put forth a proposal for a shopping precinct on the site which would require the demolition of the building. The National Trust of NSW, recognising the social and aesthetic significance of the theatre, placed an interim listing it on its register (Cinema Treasures 2011; Heritage Council of NSW 2008; Thorne, Tod & Cork 1996). The Heritage Council described the building as follows:

"The exterior of this striking 1950s theatre has a geometric composition of Functionalist and Art Deco features while the interior has a rare and outstanding design with a foyer and mezzanine that just exudes the warmth and beauty of the period" (Heritage Council).

In recommending the building for heritage listing Thorne et. al (1996) point to the decorative interior features, particularly the vestibule wall glazing created by renowned Australian interior designer Lady Marian Hall Best. The architects also considered the role the Regent had played in providing for “the cultural, social and entertainment needs of the people of Wollongong and district fro almost 40 years.” (Thorne et. al. 1996) The Regent is also noted for its “starry” ceiling, an array of criss-crossing lights which give the appearance of twinkling (Cinema Treasures).

The Regent continued to exhibit film until January 2004 but ceased trading as a cinema when owner Rowena Milgrove, daughter of Harry and Emily Jones, died. The Regent was subsequently purchased by a church group but put back onto the market in 2010 (Cinema Treasures). At the time of writing the future of the Regent appears uncertain

References:
Cinema Treasures, 2011, ‘Regent Theatre’
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2894/ accessed 10 April 2011

Heritage Council of NSW, 2008, ‘Regent Theatre’
http://www.visit.heritage.nsw.gov.au/ accessed 10 April 2011

Huggett, N 2002 ‘A cultural history of cinema-going in the Illawarra (1900-1950)’ PhD thesis, Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong.

Parkinson, R. J 1995, Gauffered Velour: A history of motion picture exhibition and picture theatres in the Illawarra district of New South Wales 1897-1994, Australian Theatre Historical Society Inc, Campbelltown NSW.

Thorne, R, Tod, L & Cork, K 1996, Movie Theatre Heritage Register for New South Wales 1896 – 1996, Department of Architecture, University of Sydney, Sydney.