Orana Drive-In
451 Albany Highway,
Orana,
WA
6330
451 Albany Highway,
Orana,
WA
6330
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Located on Albany Avenue at the corner of Lockyer Avenue in Orana, a suburb of Albany. The Orana Drive-In opened on 12th April 1960 with Burt Lancaster in “Trapeze”, and “Desert Sands”. The Orana Drive-In closed 28th February 1993 with “Dracula”, and “Single White Female”.
The Albany 2 Cinemas built next to drive-in, opened on 8th April 1993 with “The Bodyguard(1.45pm), "Reckless Kelly”(6.15pm), and “The Distinguished Gentleman(6pm). Albany 2 Cinemas changed name to Albany 3 Cinemas in July 1997. Now called Orana Cinemas. The ramps of the drive-in remained until 2014(?). The ramps are being used for a supermarket(Coles?), (and other shops as well?). The name Orana is an Australian Aborigine word meaning welcome, it was selected in a competition to name the drive-in(Albany Advertiser - 8th April 1960, page 20), it also gave the name of the suburb of Orana.
Contributed by
David Coppock
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
Most of the ramps have been replaced with a Coles Supermarket(and other shops?),and a carpark(just recently opened?).
David, there is no entry for the hardtop next to the drive-in which you mentioned. Will you be adding it to CT?
There is now an entry for the Orana Cinemas(hardtop0 as well.
The remaining ramps and (concession/bio-box building?) is behind the Orana Cinemas building to the right of the building!
The Orana Drive-in had spaces for 400 cars! The screen measured 80 feet by 36 feet! The Orana Drive-in cost £7000 Australian Pounds to build on 15 acres of bushland! The first manager of the Orana Drive-in was Mr Ron Crispe! The Orana Drive-in was opened by Hos Worship the Major of Albany, Mr J. A. Barnesby M.B.E at 7.30pm.
The snack bar(and bio box?) building is now a chemist(Friendies Chemist),
Correction, the chemist is called Friendlies Chemist.
The chemist opened sometime(late?) in 2017.
The chemist is now called Orana Pharmacy(photo in photo section).
375 cars(1960’s), 420 cars(1980’s). Exhibitor was Albany Drive-In Theatres - Mr Kanzler(from Regent Theatre, Albany), Orana Holdings P/L/Orana Drive in Cinemas Ltd.