West's Theatre

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Uploaded on: October 16, 2021

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The Nowra ‘Mechanics Institute and School of Arts’ building in Berry Street opened in May 1892. The hall has been used for a variety of activities over the years, with film screenings a dominant function during the first thirty years of the Twentieth Century. The facility has been upgraded and enlarged on several occasions over time, but the street frontage today looks very similar to this view from over 100 years ago. Frank Vincent West (1862-1951) arrived at Sydney from the UK in 1879, soon moving to the Nowra district trading as a baker. ‘Dad’ - as he came to be known by locals – in partnership with sanitary contractor E. J. Madden (6d a pan), purchased a biograph machine in early 1912, putting on their first show at the School of Arts Hall Thursday 28th March 1912. (They also travelled to Corrimal four days later to screen at the School of Arts there.) Within weeks the pair was negotiating a three month deal with the Nowra School of Arts Committee to screen every Tuesday. This was soon re-negotiated to a six month term with one or two nights weekly at 30 shillings per night hire.