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Located in the south Melbourne district of St. Kilda, the St. Kilda Bioscope Theatre was the first purpose-built picture theatre in St. Kilda.

The builders were Millard Johnson & William Gibson, film-makers who, before the building was completed had formed a partnership with J & N. Tait to create Amalgamated Pictures, Australia’s first film monopoly fully owned by Australians. In 1915 the theatre was redecorated by the registered exhibitor Cedric Johnson. The width of the theatre was 52ft wide, the length was 130 ft, the hall being 90 ft from the dress circle to the stage, with the remaining consisting of the backstage and studio areas.

Amalgamated Pictures operated the theatre and produced films in the studio until it was absorbed by Australasian Films in 1913. Australasian Films was the production arm of Union Theatres, which in 1931 would become part of the Greater Union Organisation. This made the St. Kilda Bioscope the first theatre in the Greater Union Theatres chain.

Films continued to be exhibited at the St. Kilda Bioscope Theatre until 1933, when it was converted into Studio Number Three for the Cinesound company. In May 1939 Bert Matthews converted the Cinesound Studios into a venue named The Barn - this new coffee-lounge didn’t trade for long and the building was gutted soon after.

A block of flats were built on the site in 1940 which remain until this day. The new building was called The Banff Building and featured a restaurant with outside dining.

During the war years it is famous for when General Douglas McArthur arrived in Melbourne in March 1942 after escaping the Philippines, a meal was ordered for the General from the Banff Cafe at some stage during the months that his headquarters were in Melbourne. In those days the Australia Army Barracks took up a large part of Albert Park, near St Kilda Park Primary School. The Banff was also used by American soldiers for accommodation during World War II. The restaurant and units continue to operate to this day.

Contributed by Ken Roe, Greg Lynch