President of the Friends of the Liberty Theatre Yass, Bimbi Turner, outside the heritage-listed building. Photo: Sally Hopman.
About nine years ago, Bimbi Turner bought a book to take notes at an upcoming meeting.
The Yass local opened it and the first thing she saw was a quote by Walt Disney: “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
Disney, Mrs Turner thought at the time, should know.
Almost a decade later, the first stage of that dream is about to come true – the meeting back then was to form a group to help save Yass’s Liberty Theatre, the art deco building that’s one of the first things you see as you drive down the main street of the Southern Tablelands town.
One of the few remaining theatres of its vintage and style – it was built by renowned cinema architects Crick and Furse and is listed by the National Trust as a heritage building of national significance. Features of its ocean liner-style remain today, complete with porthole windows and decorative wave murals. Much of the original David Jones carpet remains as do the theatre chairs, although re-upholstery is high on the to-do agenda.
Since that first meeting, the Friends of the Liberty Theatre, a NSW not-for-profit association, has focused all its energies on bringing the theatre back to life, supported by the Yass Repertory Society which stages live theatre there.
This weekend, the first stage of bringing the Liberty back to life begins with the first screening of a movie there since 1974.
“This is very important for us, and for the whole community,” Mrs Turner said. “I have been saying that Walt Disney quote for so long, and finally it’s coming true. If something is important enough, you can do it.”
The group’s goal from day one was to save the theatre from being knocked down for offices and a carpark.
It had operated under many guises since it was built in 1939, including as a roller skating rink, cinema, live theatre and popular meeting place for a town that was not overwhelmed with entertainment facilities.
Mrs Turner said the plan had always been to restore and upgrade the Liberty Theatre so the Yass Valley community could enjoy cinema, theatre, music and the arts once again in a venue of national heritage significance.
Set to take pride of place when the Liberty is completed, is a 1927 Wurlitzer theatre organ from the Regent Theatre in Sydney, which has been given to the Yass theatre.
The Liberty Theatre in her prime. Restoration work is well underway to restore the old theatre to her former glory. Photo: Facebook.
“None of this could have been possible without the support of the community, of our volunteers and especially the former minister Wendy Tuckerman who worked so hard to get a $250,000 grant from the NSW Government for cinema equipment,” Mrs Turner said.
This Saturday night, 18 October, the theatre will screen the new Bryan Brown film, The Travellers, with proceeds from the event going to the Rotary Club. The film will be repeated next Saturday 25 October.
Future plans are to screen Australian films and those from the golden years of Hollywood to tie in with the building’s heritage.
Mrs Turner said although the Friends were passionate about fully restoring the Liberty to her former glory, “we can’t t do it alone”.
With the first stage complete, they are keen to welcome more volunteers to help it reach its next goal – offering educational facilities to local young people interested in a career in the arts.
The aim is, by developing partnerships with groups such as the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Sydney Film School, Bangarra Dance Theatre and Red Rock Films, young people from the Yass Valley will have the opportunity like their city cousins, to learn from the best in the business – in their own theatre.
More information about the Liberty Theatre is available on its website
