CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

In 1971 students from Wollongong University established the ‘Wollongong University College Film Group’ in affiliation with Wollongong University Union. 16mm films were exhibited every Wednesday night variously in the university’s only lecture theatre, the Union Building Common Room or the Union Hall, which then accommodated about 350 people. The hall was upgraded in 1975 with the addition if a balcony and projection booth (Castle, 2010).

In 1977 the hall was licensed for the commercial screening of film to 648 persons (Parkinson 1995, p. 92). Castle (2010) however notes that the actual seating capacity of the hall remained at around 350.

In 1978 the hall was again modified in order to facilitate the projection of 35mm film. The first such screening occurred in August 1978 (Castle, 2010).

In 1992 the University received a grant from the Federal Government to refurbish the Union Hall. At this time a new screen and sound system were introduced (Castle, 2010). The size of the venue was almost doubled and the seating capacity increased to around 800 (University of Wollongong, 2010).

In December 1993 digital sound was introduced, the first cinema in Wollongong to do so. Since that date UniMovies have continued to update equipment as new technologies become available. Digital cinema was introduced in 2009 and the venue upgraded for the exhibition of 3D films in March 2010 (Castle, 2010).

At the time of writing, December 2011, UniMovies still exhibit on a weekly basis during the university semesters and remain a popular source of entertainment for students and members of the wider public.

The name UniMovies was adopted in the 1980s although the title ‘the Film Group’ still officially stands (Castle, 2010).

References:
Castle, Peter 2010, ‘“We're History”: A Founder's Memoir’, accessed 27/12/11 http://unimovies.uow.edu.au/history/history.html

Parkinson, R 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, Campbelltown, NSW.

University of Wollongong 2010, ‘About UniMovies’ accessed 27/12/11 http://unimovies.uow.edu.au/about.html