A post-Christmas cool snap has seen a surge in patrons swapping beach towels for cinema seats at Warrawong's iconic Gala Cinema, highlighting a persistent gap in Wollongong's cultural landscape. The city's central business district has been without a movie theatre since 2021, when the Greater Union complex on Burelli and Church streets closed its doors for good.
The CBD Cinema Drought: A Community Lament
For film enthusiasts like Henry and Jacqui Lee, who visited the Gala to see Nuremberg, the absence of a city-centre cinema is a significant disappointment. "Wollongong at its height had probably five, maybe six theatres or cinemas," Henry recalled. "The idea that now in a city of this size in 2025, there's no cinema in the CBD - I still find it unbelievable."
Jacqui Lee emphasised that certain films demand the big-screen treatment, noting that the historical drama Nuremberg was perfectly suited to the Gala's own old-world charm. This sentiment was echoed by Kate McGuinness, who travels from Thirroul and described the CBD's lack of a cinema as a "blight" on the city.
The Irreplaceable 'Magic' of the Theatre Experience
Patrons consistently cited the immersive, distraction-free environment as the key drawcard that streaming services cannot replicate. "You completely focus on the movie for its duration," Kate McGuinness explained. "You're strapped in, not looking at your phone or anything... It just loses a bit of its magic when you stream it."
Gala Cinema Manager, Ian Hyslop, confirmed strong post-Christmas business, driven by cooler weather and a quality lineup of films like Nuremberg and Song Sung Blue. He noted that most patrons are 30 and over, part of a generation that grew up with cinema as a primary entertainment form.
Regarding the CBD's cinema void, Mr Hyslop pointed to parking as a longstanding issue, recalling that even when Greater Union opened in 1977, planners underestimated the need for dedicated parking spaces.
A Destination for Diverse Tastes
The Gala's appeal extends beyond Wollongong locals. Jackie travelled from Kiama to see The Golden Spurtle, praising the cinema for its art-house selections. Michael made a trip from Sydney for the same film, celebrating the venue's unique character. "This is a unique theatre that plays unique films that you can't see elsewhere," he said, humorously adding that the old-fashioned chocolate-topped ice cream was a bonus.
The cinema's success underscores a clear public appetite for the shared, focused experience that only a theatre can provide, standing in stark contrast to the isolated, interruptible nature of home streaming.
Summer Screen Highlights at the Gala
Moviegoers have a packed schedule to choose from this summer:
- Avatar: Fire and Ash (Dec 28) - The battle for Pandora escalates with new fire-wielding Na'vi clans.
- Rental Family (Dec 28) - Brendan Fraser stars as an actor hired to be part of a Tokyo family.
- Anaconda (Dec 28) - A comedy remake starring Paul Rudd and Jack Black, filmed in Queensland.
- Song Sung Blue (Dec 28) - Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play Neil Diamond tribute singers.
- Marty Supreme (Jan 15) - Timothée Chalamet stars in a table-tennis tale that evolves into a heist film.
- Hamnet (Jan 15) - Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley portray William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes.
As the projectors roll at the Gala, the conversation about Wollongong's missing CBD cinema continues, with patrons voting with their feet—and their ticket purchases—for the enduring power of the big screen.
