CAARP: Cinema and Audience Research Project

Ringwood Town Hall

Venue Summary
Name	Ringwood Town Hall
Address	Cnr Whitehorse Road & Melbourne Street, Ringwood, Victoria 3134
Operation Dates	1936-01-01 - 1967-01-01
Capacity	700
Suburban/Country	Suburb
Purpose	Hall
Screens	1
Roles	1946-01-01 - 1953-01-01 : Exhibitor : Woodville Talkies 1953-01-01 - 1961-01-01 : Exhibitor : Kirby's Theatres Pty Ltd 1961-01-01 - 1967-01-01 : Exhibitor : Baker, William

Venue Comments
"Ringwood's first hall was the Mechanics Institute, built in 1909 on the same site, the corner of Whitehorse Road and Melbourne Street. This was later replaced by the much more substantial Town Hall building in 1927 with the addition of a new theatre and smaller concert hall in 1936. It was in this theatre that regular film screenings were later held." (Seccombe, p. 8) Film Weekly lists the Ringwood Town Hall as a theatre venue from 1946-1967. From 1946 to 1952 Woodville Talkies are recorded as venue exhibitors and the seating capacity is recorded as 753. From 1953 G. J Kirby (later Kirby Theatres) is recorded as the exhibitor, and in 1961 W Baker. Seating capacity is reduced to 700 in 1962. References Film Weekly, Film Weekly: motion picture directory, Film Weekly, Sydney. 1946/7- 1966/7. Seccombe, R. 1999 'Out in the sticks: early cinema in Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs' CinemaRecord no. 24, pp. 4-10

Venue Events
Event Date	Name of Venue	Address	Latitude / Longitude	Capacity	Suburban	Purpose	Screens
1936-01-01	Ringwood Town Hall	Cnr Whitehorse Road & Melbourne Street Ringwood Victoria 3134	-37.815381 145.228527	753	Suburb	Hall	1
1962-01-01				700