Drive in Theatres in Queensland

Guest bloggers: Elizabeth Heck and Dr Mimi Tsai - 2022 John Oxley Library Fellow 

Since COVID and the rise of digital media streaming services, the traditional movie going experience of a shared visit to the cinema has changed dramatically. As a result, many cinema complexes have reinvented themselves with boutique features, such as luxurious reclining seats and food and drink services, in a bid to bring audiences back. Yet, the cinema industry is no stranger to reinvention and has previously explored creative ways to reclaim audiences with drive-in theatres. 

Historically, 2024 marks 70 years since the arrival of drive-in theatres in Australia. The concept of the ‘drive in theatre’ hails from the United States in the early 1950s, where land was abundant, and the motor vehicle was taking off in accessibility. The same in turn was happening in Australia, once the car became more available and affordable to the average person. This was in addition to Australia’s post-WW2 population growth, including a boom in post-war migration. Thus, creating a timely demand for entertainment [i] . So, in 1953-54, Australia’s largest cinema chain, Hoyts, stepped in and built Australia’s first drive-in cinema. The Skyline Drive-in opened on 18 February 1954 in Burwood, Victoria [ii] .Such drive-in theatres were created to harness the “lost” audience of the more traditional indoor cinema, and typically included families with young children [iii] . Drive-in theatres continued operations for a few decades, but many faced closures due to financial pressures, urban development and competition with other venues. Although Australia had up to 330 drive-in theatres nationwide, there are currently only 12 consistently open drive-in cinemas still in operation [iv] . As such, these remaining drive-in theatres provide a dose of nostalgia, reviving memories of childhood and family times from the past 70 years.

Several examples of drive-in theatres built in Queensland can be found in the John Oxley Library Collection. These include the Waterford West Drive-In, one of Brisbane’s more recent drive-in theatres on Brisbane’s southside, which was built and later opened in December 1974.

Another example on the southside can be found with the Skyline Drive-in Coopers Plains (sometimes known as the ‘Sunnybank Drive-In Theatre’). Located on the corner of Musgrave and Troughton Roads in Coopers Plains, it was the only Hoyts Skyline drive-in theatre in Queensland. The Skyline opened on the 11th  of April 1957, and was also known for its colourful rotundas and playground area, which included a scale model train. Model trains were also said to be in operation in the Skyline Drive-In Bass Hill in NSW as well, making this a very popular feature for families with young children. 

The Gold Coast was home to the Burleigh Drive-in, built in 1957 and the sixth built in Queensland. The Burleigh Drive-In was originally designed to provide space for 500 cars, but this was eventually extended to 750 spaces. The picture screen was one of the tallest built structures on the Coast at the time. It measured 110 feet (33 metres) by 50 feet (15 metres) and stood 20 feet (6 metres) from the ground. The theatre had a successful run until its closure in 1980 [v] .  

Another Brisbane northside gem was the Keperra Drive-In, built in 1966 and located on the corner of Settlement and Samford Roads, opposite what is now the Great Western Shopping Centre, Keperra. The drive-in enjoyed success with the addition of a second screen in 1991. However, like many drive-ins, including the Starlight Aspley Drive-In, it was later demolished to make way for residential development. An aerial view of Keperra and the drive-in theatre can be seen below.

Reference

[i]  Goldsmith, B. (1999). "The Comfort Lies in All the Things You Can Do": The Australian Drive-in-Cinema of Distraction. Journal of popular culture, 33(1), 153-164. https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/1qppe2o/cdi_proquest_journals_195369096 

[ii] National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA). (n.d.). Skyline Drive-in, Melbourne https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/asset/100052-skyline-drive-melbourne

[iii] Goldsmith, B. (1999). "The Comfort Lies in All the Things You Can Do": The Australian Drive-in-Cinema of Distraction. Journal of popular culture, 33(1), 153-164. https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/1qppe2o/cdi_proquest_journals_195369096 

[iv]  Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).(2023, May 21).  Australia's drive-in culture fading to black as outdoor cinema numbers drop from 330 to just 15 venues https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-21/drive-ins-decline-in-australia-due-to-land-value-and-video/102363192  (abc.net.au)

[v] Gold Coast Libraries. (n.d.) Burleigh Drive-In Theatre.  https://www.goldcoaststories.com.au/burleigh-drive-in-theatre/ 

Other blogs by Mimi Tsai

• Garden stories in a time of pandemic digital storytelling pilot workshops
• Exploring therapeutic landscapes in Queensland histories: World War Two 
• Exploring therapeutic landscapes in Queensland histories: St Helena Prison farming
• Garden stories in a time of pandemic: workshop outcomes