Perth Entertainment Centre

The Perth Entertainment Centre was an indoor arena and cinema complex in Perth Western Australia, located on Wellington Street in the city centre. It was demolished as part of the Perth City Link project in late 2011, with its replacement, Perth Arena, opening the following year.

Perth Entertainment Centre
Former namesChannel 7 Edgley Entertainment Centre (1974–75)
LocationPerth, Western Australia
Coordinates31°56′57″S 115°51′16″E
OwnerTVW Channel 7
Capacity8,200
Construction
Opened27 December 1974
Closed2002
Demolished2011–2012
Construction costA$8.3 million
(A$65.4 million in 2016 dollars[1])
Tenants
Perth Wildcats (NBL) (1990–2002)
Perth Breakers (WNBL) (1992–1995)

History

The venue was conceived and championed by the late Brian Treasure, then General Manager at Perth television station TVW 7 and theatrical entrepreneur Michael Edgley. Their interest was principally that their two organisations had mounted large stage shows which toured the country in circus tents; a process that created major logistical challenges. The venue was designed by architects Hobbs, Winning and Leighton and was forecast to cost $5 million, but its construction coincided with a period of intense industrial action. Delays and interruptions, including strike action which was timed to coincide with concrete pours, led to a cost blow-out. The final cost was $8.3 million and interest charges put immediate financial pressure on the venture.[2]

The venue opened on 27 December 1974 as the Channel 7 Edgley Entertainment Centre with the Australian debut of the second Disney on Parade show. In around 1975 the owners approached the State and Federal governments for assistance and the Government of Western Australia took ownership of the building, renaming it The Perth Entertainment Centre.[2]

With a capacity of 8003 seats, the Entertainment Centre was Perth's primary large concert venue from 1974 until its closure in 2002. It was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest purpose built regular theatre (containing a proscenium arch) in the world.[3] The venue also played host to a number of theatrical extravaganzas, as well as a range of other events including musicals, circuses, corporate functions and international beauty pageants (Miss Universe 1979).

The Entertainment Centre was home to NBL team Perth Wildcats from 1990 until 2002. It was also home to the Perth Breakers of the WNBL from 1992 to 1995.

At the front of the Perth Entertainment Centre (west side) was "The Academy Twin Cinemas" which opened on 17 January 1975. The name changed to "Academy West End Alternative Cinemas" in June 1986. The name changed again to "Lumiere Cinema" in 1989. The "Lumiere Cinema" closed on 28 June 1996. The theatre remained empty, and was demolished along with the Perth Entertainment Centre.[4]

Concerts

List of concerts

Demolition

The venue was owned by the Seven Network and was officially closed in August 2002. In 2005, the Government of Western Australia unveiled plans for a new entertainment centre to be built on the site of the carpark for the existing centre. In 2006, the new centre was officially given the name of Perth Arena.[10] Demolition of the disused venue began on 11 May 2011 and was completed in December 2011, in preparation for the State Government's Perth City Link project and included tentative approvals for new residential and business towers on the site.[11]

References

  1. "Inflation Calculator". RBA. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) State Records Office: A guide to cabinet papers of 1976 Accessed 7 June 2008
  3. Save the Perth Entertainment Centre from the Bulldozers Archived 10 August 2007 at Archive.today. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
  4. Lumiere Cinema. Accessed 19 March 2018
  5. http://www.electrocutas.co.uk/dates/dim/040977.jpg Jethro Tull Ticket 1997
  6. http://www.electrocutas.co.uk/dates/td10.htm – Jethro Tull – Tour Date History 1977
  7. http://www.electrocutas.co.uk/dates/td27.htm Jethro Tull – Tour Date History 1994
  8. Black, Martin (1–2 February 1986). "Last Wave Farewell". Western Mail. Western Mail Ltd. p. front.
  9. "28.08.1992 Perth – Entertainment Centre (Australia)". The Cure concerts guide. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  10. Home of the new Perth Arena Archived 19 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. Jerga, Josh (11 May 2011). "Perth begins rejuvenation project". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
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