Sydney Art Deco Heritage

The Clovelly RSL and Air Force Club at 263-269 Clovelly Road, Clovelly, was built in 1939 and was formally known as the Kings Theatre. The former Kings Theatre is a nice example an Art Deco style theatre of the interwar years. The strong vertical element on the facade is typical of many theatres of the period. Photographs of the Kings Theatre are avaiable through collections in the NSW library if required. Front facade Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings

One Newtown landmark which has undergone many changes during the 20th century is the site of the former Burland Community Hall at 222 King St Newtown. In the early 1900s the site was occupied by the original Hub Theatre. From the mid-1900s it was occupied by an Art Deco-style cinema operated by the Hoyts cinema chain. In the mid-1960s the cinema was converted into a community hall and it was renamed Burland Community Hall in 1965. For many years it was the venue for community events such as dances, concerts, film screenings, meetings, parties, wedding receptions and a community market. From 1986 to 1995 the upper floor of the hall was the Newtown branch of the City of Sydney library network. After the library moved to new premises Burland Community Hall was redeveloped into offices and retail premises. Sources: Newtown Suburb Guide

The Crest Theatre, located at 157 Blaxcell Street Granville, opened at Easter, 27th March 1948. It was designed by the architectural firm Cowper, Murphy and Associates in the Post Modern style. It had an imposing corner entrance that had a slender fin-tower feature. Inside the auditorium, the seating was on a stadium plan with a raised stepped section at the rear instead of an overhanging balcony. It was operated by the Hoyts Theatres chain for its entire cinematic life. In it last years it was only open one day a week on a Saturday. The final closing date was Saturday 24th August 1963. After closing as a cinema, it was used as a bingo hall. The building is currently used as a public hall. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.

The Collaroy Cinema is located at 1097 Pittwater Road in Collaroy. It is a rare surviving example of an interwar Art Deco cinema built in 1938 to a design by J.C. Rennie Bartle. The builder was C.A. Bullivant. The Collaroy Cinema was built for Casmi Theatres Pty Ltd who wanted "a modern theatre with all the features...considered essential..." They obviously achieved their goal leaving future generations with such a fine example of a classic Art Deco theatre. It was originally called the "De Luxe Theatre". Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings