Northcote Theatre
 Inside the Northcote Theatre in 1912 | |
Interactive map of Northcote Theatre | |
| Address | 216 High St, Northcote |
|---|---|
| Location | Northcote |
| Coordinates | 37°46′25″S 144°59′54″E / 37.77366275572525°S 144.9982987744001°E |
| Capacity | 1,500 |
| Type | Music venue |
| Event | Independent music |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1912 |
| Opened | 2021 |
| Website | |
| northcotetheatre | |
The Northcote Theatre is a live music venue located in Northcote, Victoria, in a heritage listed former cinema. The building is notable for being the oldest purpose built cinema in Melbourne,[1] which opened in 1912 as the Northcote Picture Theatre.[2] It was previously a dance studio and reception centre, before it was converted into a music venue in 2022.[3] Since opening, international acts have played at the theatre, including Charli XCX,[4] Bright Eyes[5], and 100 Gecs.[6]
History
Northcote Picture Theatre was opened on 27 June 1912 by Robert McLeish. While the primary purpose of the venue was film, it had a flat floor and a raised stage that could be used for a variety of functions.[7] It was designed by local architect Edward Twentyman Jr and F.G. Richardson in a simple Edwardian Baroque style. It had its own electricity generator, and as such was the first building in Northcote to be lighted by electricity.[8][9]
The cinema closed in 1960. It would become a dance studio[3] and then the Italia Hall reception centre that decade.[10] It was heritage listed in 1999.[1]
In October 2021, the City of Darebin granted a permit the building to be converted into a live music venue, despite some opposition from residents.[11] Northcote Social Club co-founder Andrew Mansfield became the operator of the venue, which opened in July 2022.[3] The ground floor contains a bar called High Note, that opened in 2023.[12]
In popular culture
The theatre is used as the setting for the 1952 musical comedy film Night Club.[8]
References
- 1 2 "Former Northcote Theatre". vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
- ↑ "Northcote Theatre". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
- 1 2 3 Booker, Chloe (2021-12-15). "Heritage-listed Northcote Theatre to be transformed into live music complex". The Age. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
- ↑ Swire, Saffron (2022-12-15). "Boom Clap! Charli XCX to perform at Melbourne's Northcote Theatre". Time Out Melbourne. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
- ↑ "Bright Eyes to play their first Australian shows in 12 years". Double J. 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
- ↑ Varvaris, Mary. "All Laneway Festival Sideshows Have Arrived". Archived from the original on 2025-06-17. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
- ↑ Victorian Heritage Database. "FORMER NORTHCOTE THEATRE". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
- 1 2 "Northcote Theatre". libraries.darebin.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
- ↑ Butler, Graeme (February 1983). City of Northcote Urban Conversation Study, Volume One.
- ↑ Context Pty Ltd. (August 2008). City of Darebin heritage study : volume 1: draft thematic environmental history : stage 2 report. Darebin Council. p. 24.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ Dunlop, Craig (14 October 2021). "Northcote Theatre redevelopment gets planning permit from Darebin Council, in win for Melbourne music industry". Herald Sun. Herald Sun.
- ↑ Brown, Hudson (2026-07-31). "Australia's Sauna Scene Is Getting Serious with a New Association and a Very Sweaty Festival Heading to the Blue Mountains". Concrete Playground. Retrieved 2026-08-01.