Plaza Cinema
405 High Street,
Melbourne,
VIC
3070
405 High Street,
Melbourne,
VIC
3070
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Architects: Rhys Hopkins
Functions: Housing
Styles: Art Deco
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Oct 21, 2009 — Northcote Plaza Theatre set to be demolished?
Located in the Northcote district of Melbourne, the Plaza Cinema was not purpose built, it was a remodeled conversion of the Northcote Market.
Designed by architect Rhys Hopkins in an Art Deco style, it opened as the Plaza Cinema on 29th December 1934 with Marlene Dietrich in "The Scarlett Empress" and Charles Ruggles in "Melody in Spring".
The Plaza Cinema closed in March 1959 and was converted into use as a shopping arcade and a reception centre for weddings and events named the Elysee Reception & Convention Centre. This had closed in 2009, and the building was sold to be converted into apartments.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
The former Plaza Cinema can be seen behind the tram in this b&w photograph, taken in November 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/tbd/1853475070/
A closer view of the upper part of the building showing the tower feature, now dotted with mobile phone masts:
http://flickr.com/photos/tbd/1853466098/
This theatre has been sold for $4million and has a permit to be demolished unfortunately. The Art Deco society here has tried to save the theatre but it looks not to have worked. Does anyone have any photo’s of what this place looks like on the inside – or what it did look like? I live almost right behind it and always wonder what its interior is/was like.
I think this might be an interior photo, its from 1934, the year it was converted to a cinema. Any thoughts?
View link
I take the last comment back – this link above is of the Coburg Plaza Theatre.
What an awesome looking building. Too bad it can’t be saved.
Here is a rendering of what the front of the building will look like under the current plans to convert the building into apartments. At least they are keeping the general structure of the original facade.
View link
At least the mobile phone masts will apparently be history. Can’t imagine any developer would maintain a lease with the cell phone companies. When the result is so unsightly. Who would want to buy in a building with all that clumsy stuff attached to it?
A lot of condo boards are now forbidding the addition of even satellite dishes on balcony railings from the onset.