Is it possible for a building to be haunted by its own history? The Victoria Hall Building might just make you a believer.
Welcome to the story of the Victoria Hall Building in Devonport. It is not just bricks and mortar. It’s a time capsule filled with memories. It has echoes of laughter and perhaps a few ghostly whispers.
The Victoria Hall Building stands as the Southern Hemisphere’s oldest surviving purpose-built cinema. It was erected in 1912. American John Leon Benwell built it during the silent movie era. Imagine a thousand people filling this space. They were all captivated by flickering images on the screen.
In 1914, Benwell sold the Victoria Hall Building to Fuller-Haywards Picture Company. A fire in 1924 led to some remodeling. Then in 1929, the company adapted the building for the “talkies.” This was a major turning point.
Daniel Patterson enlarged the building. He made significant changes to both the interior and exterior. Much of what you see today dates back to this Art Deco transformation.
But there were tough times ahead. The Great Depression hit, and audiences dwindled. The company ceased operations in 1930. In 1945, Kerridge Odeon took over. They ran the Victoria Hall Building successfully for 43 years. However, by the late 1980s, patronage declined. The theatre closed.
Publisher Bruce Palmer bought the Victoria Hall Building in 1989. He converted it into Charley Gray’s Twin Cinemas Devonport. The original stalls and circle were separated. In the early 2000s, the building faced demolition. It was slated to become an apartment complex.
The Victoria Theatre Trust stepped in. They persuaded the North Shore City Council to purchase the building. The Victoria Hall Building reopened as a cinema and live venue. It was a victory for preservation.
But the story doesn’t end there. Some say a former projectionist named Ethel still roams these halls. Staff members have reported feeling watched. They have also witnessed objects moving on their own.
One projectionist recounted how the shutters in the upstairs projection room slammed shut. This happened one after another while he watched. No one else was in the room. An investigation showed that the shutters weren’t linked. They had to be closed individually.
During an investigation, a strong magnetic field was detected on the southwestern side of the building. It radiated 20 meters from the bar area. The field could be detected three floors up. It reached 25 Milligaus. This is over 100 times the normal background magnetic field.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the Victoria Hall Building has a rich history. It has witnessed countless stories unfold on its screens and stage. It is a place where memories linger. The Victoria Hall Building stands as a testament to the power of community. It is a reminder of the importance of preserving our past. Take a moment to soak it all in. Feel the echoes of the past. Maybe you will even catch a glimpse of Ethel.