Burnley Theatre

The Burnley Theatre opened on 21st May 1928 and was operated by Union Theatres Ltd. Located in the Melbourne suburb of Burnley, it was typical of the period and had seating in stalls and balcony levels. Designed by the noted architectural firm Bohringer, Taylor & Johnson, it had a beautiful Adam style interior in the auditorium.It was: ‘the answer to all our prayers we thought it was the most wonderful structure. The theatre was particularly popular with courting couples: We used to sit up the front, but occasionally, if we had a girl, we'd go up into the Dress Circle and people would say, "They must have plenty of money to be able to go upstairs". Up in the Dress Circle with their box of Old Gold chocolates half a crown they were then. That was what you did if you wanted to impress a girl’ In 1931 Union Theatres went into liquidation and was reformed as Greater Union Theatres. The Burnley Theatre was disposed of to the Independent chain Western Theatres Property Ltd. It was closed on 9th July 1958, two years after the TV arrived in our living roomsIt became a furniture warehouse and retail store from 1959 and remains in that use today, known as Swan Street Auctions. Most of the interior could still be seen when wandering around the store until April 2020 when most of it was destroyed by the owners:Local councillor James Searle:"I'm shocked and dismayed to see the disregard shown for the historic interior of the former Burnley Theatre by its current owners. Its destruction comes after the Greens were outvoted on the introduction of heritage controls on this and the former Bridge Road theatre at a Council meeting last year."

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