June 2021
The #ThornburyPictureHouse is a small cinema cum bar in an old garage ! The very early kind that was a drive through on a corner, with an office or residence upstairs, back when petrol still came in cans, and they poured it in for you (I think). The TPH website says it was built in 1920 by LH Tadich, and I found a mention he was a mechanic in the area in 1919, must have done alright to build this, with its fantastic tiled signs, covered over for decades probably (streetview from 2009 shows it still a garage). The picture house was established in 2018, with 57 seats, showing a mix of classic and new films.
Update : I was invited there to be interviewed by proprietor Gus Berger who was making a documentary about the lost buildings of Melbourne – I wasn’t sure what it would be like, but Lost City of Melbourne is a pretty good watch, loads of images and old footage I hadn’t seen, it’s still on SBS on-demand. And yes lots has gone but we still have lots left !
Storey of Melbourne 