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Building The Highway drive-in theatre Bentley - 1955

Photo - Vic Basham & assistant (not known) Oct 1955

Vic Basham was working for Westrex when they were contracted to install a projection plant and wire the speaker ramps at Western Australia’s first drive-in theatre. The Highway drive-in was located in Bentley, a suburb of Perth which is only 5½ miles from the Perth G.P.O. This was a tough hands on experience for Vic, as building operations were hampered daily by buffeting weather which created many problems for the contractors.

The initial permit allowed for 650 cars, however a decision was made to open conservatively with 500. The screen when finally erected measured 42 ft by 62 ft wide, while standing 18 ft above the ground, the largest at the time in Western Australia. The footings soaked up 240 tons of reinforced concrete, while 20,000 tons of fill, plus 8,000 tons of gravel and 3,000 tons of blue metal was required to cover the ramps and access alleys. Sight lines were excellent. The Lord Mayor of Perth, Sir Harry Howard opened the drive-in on October 13 1955, fittingly with a screening of Paramount’s box office smash “The Greatest Show on Earth”.

The Highway drive-in was constructed for Ace Theatres and designed by Hobbs, Winning & Leighton. Hoyts followed quickly by building a Skyline drive-in at Floreat Park.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -