The Lost City of Melbourne

An afternoon at the movies

Time: 3.00pm (Movie commences at 3.15pm and runs for 1 hr 20 mins)

Join us for light refreshments afterwards from about 4:40 - 5:30pm

In the 1850s, Melbourne was the fastest growing city in the world. “They dreamt big, they built big….it was a city jumping out of its skin”.

Melbourne became an epicentre of film and culture and its hotels, restaurants and cafes became world renowned. However, the attempted ‘modernisation’ of Melbourne in the 1950s destroyed much of the city, including its elegant cinemas and picture palaces. Our buildings were deemed too Victorian, the opposite of a modern metropolis, and Whelan The Wrecker’s demolition blitz began.

Featuring rare archival film & photography, this film is a revelatory work that allows its audience to reimagine the former glory of the lost City of Melbourne.

Gus Berger is a Melbourne based filmmaker and owner/operator of Thornbury Picture House, a lively independent art-house venue. Gus Berger is the director and producer of this film which was created when his business was forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns.

Trailer: