Camden Theatre 350 Hawthorn Road, Melbourne, VIC

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Uploaded on: April 6, 2026

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The Camden Theatre (also known as the Camden Cinema) in Caulfield South, which opened in 1935, was a notable example of Art Deco architecture designed by D.F. Cowell-Ham. The auditorium was described as “notably restrained,” leaning towards a cleaner, more modern aesthetic compared to the more ornate “picture palaces” of the earlier era.

The facade on Hawthorn Road was constructed of red brick with terra-cotta dressings, characteristic of 1930s suburban Melbourne cinema design. The theatre was built primarily as a cinema but was often described as having excellent acoustics, making it suitable for live performances as well.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -