Subscribe to RSSDevonport’s Victoria Re-Opens
While a debate continues about the future of the neglected St James in the CBD, Devonport’s Victoria Picture Palace & theatre re-opened today - exactly 98 years after it was first launched as a cinema.
It’s the oldest purpose-built cinema in NZ and possibly in the Southern Hemisphere.
In the thriving seaside borough, in 1912, an American John Leon Benwell opened Benwell’s Model Picture Palace with a 40 piece band, free children’s matinee and seating for a thousand people.
Today, Devonport celebrated the restoration of the cinema with pipe bands, vintage cars, a horse and cart and crowds pouring in to admire the work done.
A strange little visitor from Hawke's Bay
Like Onehunga which celebrated wildly when the railway line re-opened mid-September, the passionate creative Devonport community turn out in style with a clear nod to the village’s heritage.
It’s wonderful to see an important landmark not turn into apartments, which is too often what happens in Auckland, even around the corner at the Masonic tavern.
And cinemas are an important part of Auckland’s early life, with buildings in most suburbs, many of them gone or not acknowledged for their cinema heritage. Avondale’s Jan Grefstad’s Hollywood cinema in Great North Rd is one of the few still in business as a cinema.
The wooden flooring and ornate plaster ceilings upstairs remain and the early brickwork and strong oregon beams are still sound.
In 1990, it became a twin cinema complex run by cafe and theatre entrepreneur Charley Grey with the large single auditorium separated into 2 large cinema spaces.
Ownership changed several times and it faced being turned into apartments but following the efforts of a theatre trust, the North Shore council bought the building in 2006 and the Historic Places Trust gave it a category 1 heritage status.
The trust won the tender to lease the building for 33 years and has refurbished it.
Leaks and water damage has been repaired, new projectors, seating, ventilation and heating systems installed and much of the interior painted.
The Victoria will have 3 cinema spaces. The Victoria Theatre, a 180 seat theatre which will be a combined cinema and performing arts venue, the Albert Cinema an upstairs 120 seat cinema and the Benwell, a 44 seat electronic cinema.
The trust’s long term plan is to complete a full historic resotration and seismic strengthening of the building.
7 Comments
I have to say notwithstanding the fact that they chose not to go for a colourful facade which would be more in keeping with the building, and act as a great gateway to Devonport Village they have done a great job with the Picture Palace. The interior is just great, the people friendly and I for one would willingly take a ferry from Auckland to take in a show at the Picture Palace.
RE: Masonic Tavern and apartments - the apartment option for The Masonic will be it’s saving grace. What really needs attention is the house next door. On our guided tours we ensure all our guests are facing the sea at that particular spot. I think if people really want a village feel they need to move to Puhoi, and leave the development of Devonport to the wealthy developers who know what people want.
The Vic is a fantastic addition. I have to agree with Kettle Watch, The Masonic is currently an eyesore and not worthy of an upmarket suburb such as Devonport. The developers will reinstate the ORIGINAL facade and it isn’t as if there aren’t other apartment buildings along the street.
You are on the money Kettle Watch, the house next door needs to be imploded as soon as possible and incorporate it into the new Masonic development - what an embarrassment !!
A good idea might be to make Devonport a gated community and the only way to get access into the suburb is to show proof of your bank statement with a minimum salary of $120 000.00 per year - now wouldn’t that be great ! Keep the nimby’s on the outskirts of the city limits. Fabulous !!
Thanks for the background on the Masonic. Good to hear.
I WANT THE COLOUR BACK!!!! THE BUILDING HAS BEEN STERILISED FROM THE OUTSIDE!!! NO!!!!!!!!!
Aucklanders love affair with the colour white,,,
“and leave the development of Devonport to the wealthy developers who know what people want.”
“A good idea might be to make Devonport a gated community and the only way to get access into the suburb is to show proof of your bank statement with a minimum salary of $120 000.00 per year – now wouldn’t that be great ! Keep the nimby’s on the outskirts of the city limits. Fabulous !!”
What a set of weird comments. Since I cannot tell how much of it is irony, that is all I can really respond.
I have to take exception to kettles and eye on aucklands comments there re the Masonic..for us NON GREEDY non rich folk here in Devonport, WE DON’T want the bloody developers in here promoting the jetset more…Oooh and I have friends who live in that house next door so leave them out of the equation thankyou very much!.
The Masonic is a historical building and Maori bones were recently discovered there so there are ‘local iwi’ hurdles blocking any far fetched apartment project.
When I was a little girl lining up to go to the 1:30′s in the early 1960′s the outside was white. There would not have been a lot of changes then and so I guess this would have been the colour around about the time the facade changed to the art deco style.
Congratulations everyone for saving the Victoria. A real gem. Devonport cannot afford to lose its heritage buildings.