The History
Do you have memories of the Vegas 70?
Do you remember rolling Jaffas down the aisle of the Sturt Cinema?
The Mechanics’ Institute
In 1900 J.C.Williamson and Wybert Reeve showed a series of animated (Boer) War pictures, and some England-Australia Cricket highlights. Reeve hosted the first public demonstration in South Australia of moving pictures with a cinématographe Lumière projector in 1896.
In 1909 the space was let, for a short period, to a J. C. Langley (operating as J. C. Langley’s Living Pictures and J. C. Langley’s Electric British Bioscope).
On the 20th of June 1915 the hall was closed due to fire in the proscenium (the section between the stage and the audience).
On the 12th of September 1916 the hall was re-opened after construction of a new and larger proscenium.
In 1917 the hall let to the Austral Photoplay Company for showing pictures.
The Britannia and Odeon
In 1919 the hall leased by the board of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to a syndicate of Messrs J. Clemens, C. Gemmola, L. Morgan and F. C. Jelbart and opened as the Britannia Theatre.
The Britannia operated for over 40 years, and in that time received a number of renovations and additions.
In 1920 the management of the Britannia added a bioscope room and fitted 375 new seats in the theatre, then in 1928 the hall was redecorated to a more modern standard, and most of the seating was replaced.
In 1930 the film operator’s cabin was enlarged to accommodate additional projection equipment and a new winding machinery room.
In 1962 Britannia Pictures sublet the theatre (now known as the Odeon) to Mr. R. Pappas, and in 1965 the lease of Odeon theatre transferred to Village Drive-In, Ballarat.
Why was it called the Odeon? Odeon is the name for many ancient Greek buildings built for musical activities such as singing, musical shows, and poetry competitions.
The Vegas 70
In 1966 the theatre was re-opened as the Vegas 70 by Village Cinemas, owned by John Robert (Jack) Anderson, who also owned a number of other cinemas in the area, including The Regent Cinema and the Ballarat Drive-Ins. See the ACMI website for more details.
The Vegas was in operation for 15 years, screening the popular films of the times.
Milk bars, tea rooms and cigarette shops operated from the front of the building, with the foyer and ticket desks on the first floor (now called the Hugh Williamson Foyer).
The Mechanics’ Institute Library continued to operate in the building on the ground floor.
In 1981 the Vegas 70 theatre closed. All projection, audio equipment, screen and seating removed by lessee.
The Sturt
In 1982 Lyric Theatre Company leased the hall for 11 years and used it for live performance rehearsals, stage set productions and costume hire.
In 1993 Hall was leased by Ballarat Cinemas Pty. Ltd. and opened as the Sturt Cinema in September 1994.
In 2004 the Sturt Cinema lease expired. All projection, auto equipment and screen removed by lessee. Hall reverts to the Mechanic’s Institute.
In 2009 refurbishment of the theatre space commenced.
In 2013 The theatre re-opened on November 8 2013 with the new name of Minerva Space which is fitted with a large rear-projected multi-use digital projection system and is now used for regular film events.
