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Uploaded on: July 14, 2025

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Matthew Flinders Theatre Main Street, Melbourne, VIC

Photo - The Lawrence Bros (Alf, Joshua and James) courtesy of Malcolm Lawrence the son of cinema owner-manager James Lawrence - (Alf Lawrence is on the left). Alf Lawrence started a cinema business together with his brothers Joshua, and James in 1930 after travelling around Gippsland showcasing films to various halls on a regional touring circuit.

“Initially there was no power supply in these towns, they had a generator driven off an old Model A Ford to power the projection equipment and the hall lighting,”

The first feature film the brothers showed on the Gippsland circuit was The Dirigibles (1931), a film about the triumphs and disasters of the US Navy’s airships.

The brothers eventually sold the rights to their successful cinema circuit, investing in their first bricks-and-mortar theatres in Korumburra, Drouin, Pakenham and the Plaza in the main street of Mornington.

By 1951 the Plaza Mornington was operated by the Lawrence brothers with Alf Lawrence in charge, by 1959 they had re-named it the Matthew Flinders Theatre. It was still open in 1969.

Comments - Bob Daley writes - Who remembers the family who ran the old Mornington picture theatre, maybe in the sixties.

Richard Beckman writes - I only remember old Lawrence managing “the flicks” in the 70’s.

Kevin Eyres writes - From memory his name was Alf Lawrence.

David Wheeler writes - I ushered in the 60s

Contributed by Greg Lynch -