CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

The Hoyts Cinema Centre was designed in 1966 by Peter Muller who also designed Hoyts, Bulleen and Wantirna Drive-in, amongst many other projects.

When the complex opened in 1969, the Cinema Centre was considered the flagship of development and modernisation. The Centre included three cinemas, the largest multiplex at that time, entrance lobby, separate cinema foyers, a mezzanine gallery restaurant and a ten storey office tower. Cinemas 1 and 2 each featured a deeply-curved screen for film formats up to 70mm. Cinema 3 was originally a two level cinema.

Later on Cinema 3 was twinned, and major refurbishments of the building took place that removed, painted or plastered over much of the original detail. Hoyts also removed the curved screens and replaced them with flat screens.

In 1970 Hoyts Mid-City / Chinatown, Melbourne opened one block up the street. This twin cinema was allocated the numbers 4 & 5, a continuation of the Cinema Centre, Hoyts cinemas One, Two and Three.

In March 2004, the building was sold to Drapac Property for $14.4 million after Hoyts moved their main theatre complex to Melbourne Central. It has been converted to an office building now known as 140 Bourke.

Film Weekly records the following changes in capacity:
Cinema 1
1968/9 = 896
1969/70 = 884

Cinema 2
1968/9 = 832
1969/70 = 820

Cinema 3
1968/9 = 738
1969/70 = 746

References
Cinema & Theatre Historical Society 1997, CInema index : Melbourne cinemas, suburban cinemas, Victorian drive-ins. CATHS, Victoria.

Thorne, R 1981, Cinemas of Australia via USA, pp.118-120.

'Three-theatre plan for Hoyts in Victoria', Film Weekly, v.106, n.2049, April 21 1966.

Three new cinemas planned by Hoyts', Film Weekly'', v.109, n.2192, February 13 1969, p.1, p.8.

Film Weekly: motion picture directory, Film Weekly, Sydney. 1968/9- 1971

Film Weekly (12 June 1969, p.1.) reports the opening of Hoyts Theatres $4.5 million Cinema Centre.

Film Weekly (5 June 1969, p. 4.) reports on the opening of Cinema Centre 1-3. It also details Cinema One, Cinema Two and Cinema Three seat 884, 820 and 746 persons respectively.

Film Weekly (17 April 1969, p.8.) announces opening date for the cinemas. Theatre design features included.

Salter, D 1969, 'Cinema Centre historic event' Film Weekly, 12 June, p. 3. This article reports the opening of Cinema Centre and provides seating capacity detail. It also references the opening of two more theatres in Bourke Street in the coming year.

'Three cinemas in one city centre', The Sun (15 April 1966, p.7) states Cinema Centre was designed by Sydney architect Peter Muller.

'The Architect', "The Sun", June 04 1969.