Piccadilly Theatre and Arcade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Piccadilly Theatre and Arcade |
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Hay Street Mall entrance to Piccadilly Arcade, Perth
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| General information | |
| Status | Arcade open Cinema closed (October 2013) |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Town or city | Hay Street, Perth, Western Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°57′13″S 115°51′30″E / 31.9536°S 115.8582°E |
| Completed | Arcade – February 1938 Theatre –10 March 1938 |
| Cost | A£75,000 |
| Client | Claude Albo de Bernales |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Baxter Cox and Leighton |
| Structural engineer | General Construction Company |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 20 December 2002 |
| Reference no. | 2065 |
The Piccadilly Cinema Centre and Piccadilly Arcade are famous buildings in Perth, Western Australia. They are located on Hay Street. This special place includes an Art Deco style cinema and a shopping arcade. It was designed by architect William T. Leighton for a mining businessman named Claude de Bernales.
The theatre and arcade first opened in 1938. The arcade connects Hay Street all the way through to Murray Street. In 1984, the buildings were updated and looked new again. This update even won an award for its design! The Piccadilly Cinema was the last movie theatre still open in Perth's main city area until it closed in 2013.
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A Look Back in Time
The Piccadilly Theatre was one of many cinemas built in Perth during the years between World War I and World War II. Its design, called Inter-war Functionalist style, showed how much people wanted fun and entertainment after a tough time called the Great Depression. When it first opened, the Piccadilly was very modern. It was even the first cinema in Western Australia to have air conditioning!
Building the Piccadilly
A company owned by Claude de Bernales bought the land in 1935. After finishing another famous building called London Court in 1937, Bernales decided to build the Piccadilly. He hired architects Alfred Baxter Cox and Leighton to design the theatre and shopping arcade.
The construction used parts of older buildings that were already on the site. A local company, General Construction Company, built it. The Piccadilly Arcade opened in February 1938. The theatre opened a month later, on March 10, 1938. When it first opened, the theatre could seat 1,100 people.
Artistic Touches
The theatre and arcade have beautiful bas relief carvings. These are like sculptures that stick out from a flat surface. They show dancing girls and strong 'Atlas-type' figures. These artworks were made by a Perth sculptor named Edward Kohler. He was one of the first professional sculptors to work successfully in Western Australia.
Changes Over the Years
The Piccadilly Theatre and Arcade stayed with its first owners until 1978. Then, it was sold a few times. In 1983, the owners decided to restore the buildings. The theatre and arcade closed for this big update. A Perth architect named Ian Tucker led the work.
The buildings reopened in March 1984. This $2 million update won a special award for renovated buildings in 1986. After the update, the Piccadilly was bought by Alister Norwood, who started the clothing store Jeans West.
Later, in 1989, the cinema was sold again. It closed for a short time in 1990. Then, Malcolm Leech took over. He changed part of the theatre to create a second, smaller cinema screen. This made the Piccadilly a "twin screen" cinema. Later, he added a third screen, making it a "triplex" cinema.
In 1992, the Piccadilly Theatre and Arcade was bought by its current owners. In 2005, Cyril Watson took over running the cinema.
Recent Times
In March 2010, a big thunderstorm damaged the cinema. It had to close for repairs but reopened in April 2010. In May 2013, part of the cinema's roof collapsed due to maintenance issues.
In September 2013, the cinema's operator, Cyril Watson, announced it would close. This was due to financial difficulties. The cinema space was briefly used for a festival in 2014. It has also been used as a shop and a kickboxing studio.
Future Plans
In October 2018, plans for a big new update to the cinema and arcade were confirmed. The cinema will become a place for live performances, with a lounge and bar. The arcade will get new lights, flooring, and shop fronts. This update is expected to be finished in late 2019 or early 2020. The City of Perth even gave a grant to help with this heritage project.
Why the Piccadilly is Important
The Piccadilly Theatre and Arcade is considered a very important historical place. It was added to the Register of the National Estate in 1988. The National Trust of Australia also recognized its value. It is listed on the City of Perth's Municipal Inventory and the State Register of Heritage Places. This means it is protected and its history is valued.
Spooky Stories
Some people say that the Piccadilly complex is haunted! There are stories about the ghost of a former manager who still walks the halls.
