CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

This venue was used by travelling showmen for the exhibition of film on a semi-regular basis from at least 1913, originally under the auspices of the Order of the Sons of Temperance Friendly Benefit Society. In 1921 the hall was purchased by exhibitor Mr T. Rowe and the name was changed the Pictorium and continued under that nomenclature under various owners until 1946. In 1946, now under the control of Wollongong businessman George Parkes who also owned the picture shows in Albion Park, Balgownie, Dapto and Port Kembla, the venue had a further change of title to The Empire (Parkinson 1995, pp. 108 – 110).

Parkinson (1995, pp 108 – 111) provides evidence which indicates that throughout its lifetime the cinema was never a particularly successful venture often showing to small audiences and occasioning closing for extended periods of time. Nonetheless, the Empire continued to trade until 1960, from 1949 under the ownership and control of Wollongong Theatres.

The building was demolished around 1970.

References:
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.