A ceremony for the foundation stone of a Temperance Hall was held on 21 March 1889 by the Tasmanian Temperance Alliance, which included members of theSociety of Friends.[5][6]Opening 1 May 1890, theTemperance Hall was used for religious gatherings, tea drinking, live entertainment and family-focused activities.[7]Notably, the Temperance Hall was used for meetings surroundingWomen's suffrage in Australia[8] and visited byJessie Ackermann of theWoman's Christian Temperance Union, who spoke at the hall in 1892.[9]As influence of theTemperance movement in Australia waned followingThe Great War, the venue was increasingly used for dances, skating and as a cinema projectingsilent films.[10]The hall was eventually sold in 1922.[11]
Over the following decade, the venue operated as theBijou Theatre showcasing pantomimes, boxing, travelling theatre productions and live music. Although the theatre was popular, the operators were allured by the larger profit margins found in cinema exhibition. Established by the Avalon Theatre Co Ltd, the independent theatre was remodelled and reopened as Hobart’s first talkie theatre, theAvalon Theatre on 11 March 1932.[12][13][14]The venue changed operators to Tasmanian Amusements Pty Ltd in 1934.[15]AWestern Electric Mirrophonic sound system was installed at the cinema in 1937.[16]
Avalon Theatre circa 1975
Commencing withMy Fair Lady, it became the city's only70mm theatre in 1966. The Avalon was taken over by Village Cinemas in July 1969 and closed in November 1976, coinciding with the opening of their new West End Twin theatre on Collins Street. The Avalon operated as a theatre for over 86 years, then as a Danny Burke electrical appliance store for over 30 years, closing in 2009.
Opening in February 2013, an indoor market called theBrunacci Avalon Market was held at the premises each Saturday and Sunday.[17][18]The market permanently closed in September 2017.[3]
Throughout the mid-2010s, a large room recording studio called the Avalon Futurium operated within the old theatre. Alistair “Al Future” Campbell was the producer and engineer behind the Avalon Futurium.[19]
^"Women's Suffrage Meeting".The Mercury. Vol. LXIII, no. 7533. Tasmania, Australia. 20 April 1894. p. 3. Retrieved24 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Temperance-Hall".The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXI, no. 15, 603. Tasmania, Australia. 30 October 1919. p. 6. Retrieved24 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^""The Avalon."".Huon Times. Vol. 22, no. 2269. Tasmania, Australia. 19 February 1932. p. 5. Retrieved23 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Avalon Theatre Sold".The Mercury. Vol. CXLI, no. 20, 941. Tasmania, Australia. 20 September 1934. p. 8. Retrieved23 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^Mirrophonic For Avalon, Hobart, vol. 15, Sydney: Everyones Ltd, 24 March 1937, nla.obj-569319700, retrieved23 August 2022 – via Trove
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