BONZA - Australia & New Zealand Database

The Westgarth Picture Theatre

The Westgarth Picture Theatre was established on Thursday 20 October 1921, on High Street, Northcote Melbourne. It has still been operating with same building since 1921 and the appearance is almost same as its beginning. It is the oldest purpose-built cinema that is still running in Melbourne. In 1994, the National Trust of Australia classified the theatre as locally significant. It maintains close proximity to Northcote Greek community.

Currently, Westgarth theatre is owned by Peter Yiannoudes who bought it in 1966.

The theatre experienced various historical events such as Two World Wars, Great Depression, introduction of television during 1950s and the arrival of immigrants. Despite many cinemas were forced to close especially after the prevalence of TV, the Westgarth theatre was able to survive thanks to their adaptation to technological and social change in Australia.

The Westgarth Theatre was operated as Valhalla Cinema from 1987 to 1996. The Valhalla cinema originally started operating in Richmond, Melbourne. After its closure on January 1989 in Richmond, it moved to Northcote.