Sorrento Cinema — History and a New Beginning

The Sorrento Cinema — was housed in the historic Athenaeum building on Ocean Beach Road — it had been a cultural fixture of the township for well over a century. Constructed in 1894 as a multi-purpose hall, the venue originally hosted travelling performers and seasonal entertainment before embracing film exhibition in the early twentieth century. By the 1930s it had become a dedicated picture theatre, evolving into a cherished social and cultural gathering place for generations of locals and visitors. Changing viewing habits and rising operating costs eventually led to the closure of the cinema screens in 2023, leaving a significant gap in Sorrento’s cultural life. Yet community attachment to the cinema has never faded — and the story does not end there.

Recently, djprojects — the people behind & Gallery Australia and the newly formed & Independents — posed a simple question: could & Independents be the new home of the Sorrento Cinema? What followed was an overwhelming show of community support, with pledges and donations flowing in to help explore the development of a new cinema. Within one month, the response was strong enough to confidently say yes — and now the project begins.

The vision is to create an intimate, welcoming 50-seat cinema designed for shared cultural experience. The space will be lined with rich velvet curtains and warm carpeting, creating an atmosphere that is both nostalgic and comfortable. Programming will include three to four nightly screenings during the off-season, expanding to nightly screenings throughout holiday periods. Designed with flexibility in mind, the venue will also serve as a community hub — available for private functions, talks and forums, memorial gatherings, children’s parties, performances, book readings, musical evenings, corporate presentations, and film festivals — ensuring it remains active and meaningful beyond film exhibition alone.

No cinema experience would be complete without the familiar pleasures of the kiosk. Alongside popcorn, Choc Tops, lollies, and soft drinks, the cinema will offer a curated selection of quality wine, beer, and cheese platters, reflecting both tradition and a contemporary audience.

Re-establishing cinema in Sorrento is about more than reopening a screen — it is about restoring a place of gathering, storytelling, and shared memory. This project seeks to honour the past while building a sustainable cultural future, inviting the community to once again take their seat in a space that has long belonged to them.