Windsor Cinema
An Art Deco and Inter-War Functionalist cinema in Nedlands, Western Australia, operated under lease by Luna Palace Cinemas.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Windsor Cinema is a historic two-screen cinema at 98 Stirling Highway in Nedlands, Western Australia. The venue opened in 1937 as the Windsor Theatre and Gardens, combining an indoor auditorium with an adjacent open-air picture garden. Its original design was prepared by Western Australian architect William T. Leighton and was commissioned from builder W.H. Ralph and Sons by E.P. Nelson of Claremont District Pictures. The theatre was formally opened on 10 September 1937 by Mr Bennett, chairman of the Nedlands Road Board, and initially accommodated at least 800 patrons, making it the largest cinema in the local district at the time. The building is notable both for its architectural character and for its unusual projection arrangement. Constructed in brick with rendered and plastered finishes, it displays characteristics associated with Inter-War Functionalism, including strong horizontal lines, simple geometric massing, concealed roof forms and broad structural spans. Nautical Moderne influences are visible in details such as the steel balustrading, which recalls the design language of ocean liners. The most distinctive technical feature was a movable projector system shared by the theatre and the adjoining picture garden. Projectors could be moved along a trolley rail between internal and external projection positions, allowing the same projection equipment to serve both venues. The arrangement was described as a pioneering design developed by Leighton and was compared with the shared bio-box arrangement at the Como Theatre in South Perth. The venue was initially operated by Vince Lucus and later taken over by Independent Film Distributors. Like many Australian open-air cinemas, the picture gardens were affected by the spread of television and closed in 1968. The cinema itself adapted by developing an art-house identity. It became an important venue for non-mainstream film exhibition and was the first cinema in Perth reported to screen subtitled films. A fire affected the building during the 1970s; the cinema was subsequently restored, although it later closed on 24 September 1983. Roger and Chrissie Hunt and Cyril Watson subsequently purchased the venue. They redeveloped the former garden area by constructing a second indoor cinema, creating a twin-screen operation. The additional screen opened in November 1988 and seated approximately 210 people, while the original auditorium, later known as Cinema 1, was arranged for approximately 500 patrons. The redevelopment removed the remaining physical traces of the picture garden, with further demolition completed in 1988, but preserved the site as a functioning cinema. The original auditorium received an air-conditioning upgrade in 1997, replacing its older single-compressor system, while Cinema 2 had air-conditioning from its construction. In November 2005, the owners entered into a leasing arrangement with Luna Palace management, bringing Windsor Cinema into the Luna Palace Cinemas group. Luna Palace later installed NEC digital cinema systems in both projection rooms in July and August 2012. Windsor Cinema remains an active local cinema and a heritage-valued example of twentieth-century Australian cinema architecture. The National Trust of Western Australia classified the building on 3 December 1990. It is also included in the City of Nedlands Municipal Heritage Inventory. The Heritage Council of Western Australia determined in 1995 that the property did not meet the threshold for inclusion on the State Register of Heritage Places. Its current identity combines historic architectural fabric, a long association with specialist film exhibition and operation within the Luna Palace cinema network.
History
Windsor Cinema was constructed in 1937 at 98 Stirling Highway, Nedlands, as the Windsor Theatre and Gardens. W.H. Ralph and Sons built the venue for E.P. Nelson of Claremont District Pictures, working to a design by architect William T. Leighton. The theatre opened officially on 10 September 1937, when it was opened by Mr Bennett, chairman of the Nedlands Road Board. With seating for at least 800 people, it was the largest cinema in the district at the time. The original complex combined an enclosed cinema with an outdoor picture garden. Its projection system was unusually flexible: a projector could be moved between the internal auditorium and the garden using a projecting wing and trolley rail arrangement connected to the shared bio-box. This enabled the venue to serve both indoor and outdoor audiences without duplicating all projection equipment. The concept was associated with Leighton's work and was considered distinctive in Australian cinema design of the period. Architecturally, the building is an example of Inter-War Functionalism. Its design uses restrained geometric forms, horizontal lines, concealed roofs and broad spans made possible by steel and reinforced concrete. Steel balustrading provides a Nautical Moderne accent. Over time, the building's external and internal appearance changed substantially, including the removal of the original candy bar, ticket box, booking office and street canopy, modernization of toilets, changes to the foyer and projection areas, and replacement of auditorium seating. The cinema was operated by Vince Lucus before being taken over by Independent Film Distributors. The adjacent picture gardens closed in 1968, after television reduced the viability of outdoor cinema exhibition. The enclosed theatre survived partly by developing an art-house role and was reported to be the first Perth cinema to show subtitled films. A fire occurred during the 1970s, after which the building was restored. The venue later closed on 24 September 1983. Roger and Chrissie Hunt and Cyril Watson acquired the property and redeveloped the former garden area. A second indoor auditorium opened in November 1988, turning the site into a twin-screen cinema. The newer cinema seated about 210 people, while the original auditorium, designated Cinema 1, seated about 500. The last remaining elements of the picture garden were removed during the 1988 works, and the former garden area was used for the new cinema and car parking. Cinema 1 received an upgraded air-conditioning system in 1997; Cinema 2 had air-conditioning from its construction. In November 2005, Luna Palace management leased the venue, bringing Windsor Cinema into the Luna Palace Cinemas group. The cinema subsequently operated under the Luna Palace banner and retained its role as a local venue for specialist and general film programming. In July and August 2012, NEC digital cinema systems were installed in the projection rooms of both screens. The site's heritage recognition reflects its architectural and social history. The National Trust of Western Australia classified Windsor Cinema on 3 December 1990. The building is also recorded in the City of Nedlands Municipal Heritage Inventory. In 1995, the Heritage Council of Western Australia determined that it did not meet the threshold for inclusion on the State Register of Heritage Places. Despite these changes and assessments, Windsor Cinema remains an operating two-screen cinema and a surviving example of a pre-war suburban cinema complex in Western Australia.
- 2012
Digital projection upgrade
[1]NEC Digital Cinema systems were installed in both projection rooms during July and August.
- 2005
Luna Palace lease begins
[1]Luna Palace management began leasing the cinema in November 2005.
- 1995
State heritage assessment
[1]The Heritage Council of Western Australia determined that the property did not meet the threshold for the State Register of Heritage Places.
- 1990
National Trust classification
[1]The National Trust of Western Australia classified the building on 3 December 1990.
- 1988
Second indoor cinema opens
[1]A second screen was built in the former picture-garden area and opened in November 1988, creating the Windsor Twin Cinema.
- 1983
Cinema closes before redevelopment
[1]The venue closed on 24 September 1983 before being acquired and redeveloped by new owners.
- 1970
Cinema affected by fire
[1]A fire struck the cinema during the 1970s; the venue was subsequently restored.
- 1968
Picture gardens close
[1]The outdoor picture gardens closed as television changed cinema-going patterns.
- 1937
Windsor Theatre and Gardens opens
[1]The cinema opened on 10 September 1937 with an indoor auditorium and adjacent picture garden, seating at least 800 people.
Products and positioning
A historic neighbourhood cinema with an art-house heritage, operating as a two-screen venue within the Luna Palace Cinemas network.
Cinema auditorium · 1937
Cinema 1
The original main auditorium of the 1937 Windsor Theatre. After the twin-screen redevelopment, it was designated Cinema 1 and arranged to seat approximately 500 patrons. The auditorium has undergone later modernization, including seating and air-conditioning changes, while remaining part of the historic cinema building.
Cinema auditorium · 1988
Cinema 2
The second indoor auditorium was built in the former picture-garden area and opened in November 1988. It seats approximately 210 people and was designed with air-conditioning from the outset. Together with Cinema 1, it forms the venue's current two-screen configuration.
Cinema programming · 2005
Luna Palace film programming
Since the 2005 leasing arrangement, Windsor Cinema has operated within the Luna Palace Cinemas network. Its programming includes cinema releases and reflects the venue's longstanding association with art-house and specialist film exhibition, including subtitled films.
Brand decisions
2012
Install digital cinema projectionProduct launchBackground
Digital projection was becoming standard in theatrical exhibition, requiring cinemas to replace or supplement traditional film projection equipment.
Action taken
Luna Palace installed NEC Digital Cinema systems in the bio-boxes of both Windsor Cinema screens during July and August 2012.
Aftermath
Both auditoriums received digital projection capability, supporting the venue's continued operation as a contemporary two-screen cinema.
2005
Lease the cinema to Luna Palace managementM&ABackground
The cinema required an operating arrangement that connected it with an established local cinema group while ownership remained with the property's owners.
Action taken
A leasing agreement brought Windsor Cinema into the Luna Palace Cinemas group in November 2005.
Aftermath
The venue continued operating under Luna Palace management and became part of the group's Western Australian cinema network.
1988
Convert the former picture-garden site into a second indoor screenStrategyBackground
After the venue's closure in 1983 and the decline of the outdoor picture garden, the new owners sought to preserve the site as a viable operating cinema.
Action taken
Roger and Chrissie Hunt and Cyril Watson built a second indoor auditorium in the former garden area, creating a twin-screen cinema that opened in November 1988.
Aftermath
The redevelopment established the two-screen format that continues to define the venue, although the remaining picture-garden structures were removed.
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