Riverline Drive-In

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Riverline Drive-In High Road, Riverton, WA - Elevated view 1978

The Riverline Drive-In, the original Riverton Library and the old Riverton Hall can be clearly seen.

PHOTO - City of Canning’s Local History collection.

Warren Duffy - Rossmoyne Reflects
March 1, 2016
SUBJECT - RIVERLINE DRIVE-IN THEATRE !!

This was our drive-in built for City Theatres, as the fourth of the ‘Line’ drive-ins, and the 15th in the suburban area, and was designed by Arthur Leith. It opened on 1 April 1969:

The 500-car drive-in has a central operational building including concession snack bar, dinette and toilets at ground level and a spacious bio-box above. - A playground with suitable equipment will be installed immediately behind the concession building for the convenience of children attending the drive-in. The site will be developed with suitable shrubs and trees to fit into the present landscape. Excellent screen results are visible on the 90ft screen

This was the first drive-in able to present 70mm, so there was a backlog of 70mm films that had not been screened in drive-ins. The company ran these for several months, with so much success that the back ramps, which had been formed for later expansion, were almost immediately provided with sound speakers, increasing the capacity to 705.

In 1988, Hoyts took over City Theatres and immediately closed all six drive-ins: the Riverline was then sold for $750,000, and the site developed as a housing estate. Didn’t you always wonder why there were so many 46 year olds in Rossmoyne? - Written by Warren Duffy.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -