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Source - Friends of the Lockleys Memorial Centre - Today, #Today we look at the heritage protection afforded to the Lockleys Memorial Centre.

The Lockleys Memorial Centre is included on the West Torrens Heritage Survey, conducted in 1998 by McDougall and Vines.

The history and description provided. I’ll paraphrase slightly for conciseness, but without detracting from material fact:

“It was constructed shortly after the First World War, and is one of a series of memorials constructed throughout West Torrens to commemorate the First World War.”

Sure, that’s the gist of it. But no dates? No range of construction period? No notation of architect or builder?

“The early photograph indicates the exterior has changed significantly as it has been converted to a picture theatre.”

In actual fact, the exterior has changed extremely little. The frontage is the only area with alteration beyond easy recognition. But take the time to view the attached image to see truly how little. The door has been moved, and the remainder is panelling and tile/render. The structure would remain relatively intact below.

Additionally, the Lockleys Memorial Centre was never converted into a picture theatre. It was intended to, and operated as one since inception -

a rarity for Adelaide, and amongst the earliest, if not the earliest to have this consideration from the planning stage. Most other halls and theatres were converted as an afterthought, and purpose built cinemas had only been occurring for around ten years at the time the Lockleys Memorial Hall was constructed.

“The front has been reworked and the hall has been extended to accommodate motion picture screening.”

False. See above.

If we can’t trust the content of the local heritage survey as basis for its protection, is it any wonder that the City of West Torrens has been able to slip this through? These points alone should be grounds for an interim protection order and a reassessment.

David Kilderry (Cinema Historian) writes -

Excellent points. I often find that unless a cinema and theatre historical building expert is retained for such surveys (with all due respect to McDougall and Vines), the reports may miss significant facts due to what appears to be a lack of expertise in this highly specialized area.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -