Dongara Mechanics Institute / Town Hall
| Name | Dongara Mechanics Institute / Town Hall |
|---|---|
| Address | Church Street, Dongara, Western Australia 6525 |
| Operation Dates | - |
| Capacity | |
| Suburban/Country | |
| Purpose | |
| Screens | |
| Roles |
"Dongara was visited by Vincent's Empire Pictures in November 1908, which may have been the earliest film screening in the town. From 1925-1932 R. Taylor-Walker was the registered exhibitor there and he screened the first talkies in the town. Later in the thirties and in the forties Dongara was on ´The West Touring Talkies' circuit, operated by A. F. Nulsen of Mingenew, then from 1940 by Ray Dean. All these probably screened in the Mechanics Institute Hall, built on the south-west corner of the Waldeck St/Church St intersection in 1881 and gutted by fire in 1950. The new Town Hall was opened in 1953 on the same site and continued to be used for pictures. Some of the wooden folding chairs (in sets of five) which were in use in the town hall can still be seen on the verandah of Russ Cottage, an old family home now restored and open for inspection as a local history museum. When Dean built the drive-in he ceased screening in the hall. Since then the only screenings in the Dongara Town Hall were two by Roy Mudge in May and June 1987." (Bertand 2001) |
| Event Date | Name of Venue | Address | Latitude / Longitude |
Capacity | Suburban | Purpose | Screens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908-11-01 | Vincent's Empire Pictures |
Church Street Dongara Western Australia 6525 |
-29.2514516 114.9258511 |
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| 1925-01-01 | Dongara Mechanics Institute |
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