Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Bikers outside the Victory Café, Govett’s Leap Road, Blackheath

Bikers outside the Victory Café, Govett’s Leap Road, Blackheath

2004
PXD 985 / 35
Colour digital print

The tiny Mountain village of Blackheath is popular with visitors for its magnificent bushwalks and views, as well as a selection of cafes and specialist shops. These bikers are sitting outside the Victory Theatre café and antiques centre, one of the biggest and most popular shops in Blackheath.

The Victory Theatre building was purpose-built as a cinema in 1916. It was originally called the Arcadia Theatre, and in 1945 the name changed possibly to celebrate the victory and the end of the World War 2. The construction of the theatre gives an insight into the growth of Blackheath in the early 20th century – the resident and tourist population of the area was growing fast, justifying the expense of building a cinema in the town. The Arcadia, then the Victory Theatre was an important part of the social life in Blackheath until it closed in 1960. Since then, the building has been used for various retail purposes.

This 2004 photograph is part of a series called Portraits and scenes of Sydney and the Blue Mountains by Sydney crown prosecutor, photographer and author Mark Tedeschi (1952-)

The Victory Theatre was designed by architectural firm Hassell and Stockham for owner Herbert Neate in 1916. 

The Victory Theatre was the only cinema in the Blue Mountains west of Katoomba.

Mark Tedeschi was given his first camera by his grandmother at the age of 12. 

The Victory Theatre is the best preserved of only three purpose-built cinema buildings left in the Blue Mountains. The other two, the Empire and the Savoy are both in Katoomba.