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Sorrento Athenaeum

Other Names Sorrento Cinema ,  Atheneum Theatre Location 20 - 36 Ocean Beach Road,, SORRENTO VIC 3943 - Property No B6735 File Number B6735 Level State

[1/1] B6735 Athenaeum

Statement of Significance

The Sorrento Athenaeum was constructed in 1894 for local entrepreneur Isaac Bensilum, and designed by J F Gibbins, and is architecturally and historically significant at a State level as an early and unusually ornate and generally intact privately built 19th century theatrical hall, a rare building type. The auditorium features a large cornice and pilasters, three deep plaster domes, set into a ceiling of gridded/floral plasterwork, which also lines the proscenium wall, the Athenaeum auditorium is particularly decorative, and has something of the character of a major theatre.
Originally accommodating visiting theatrical companies and personalities during the summer season, as well as dances, balls and bazaars, films were also shown from at least the mid-1920s.
The building is architecturally significant because of its largely original auditorium, and the two storey facade, built of local limestone with brick dressings (unfortunately painted over). Itis also of note as an important element in the Back Beach Road Streetscape, despite the addition of a cantillevered verandah and almost complete alteration of the ground floor facade in the 1930s.
Classified: 03/06/1996