Dubbo’s drive-in theatre is set to show movies for the first time in three decades.
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Plans are well under way for the long-dormant but not forgotten asset to open for one weekend in April.
The Westview Drive-In Theatre operated on a prominent highway site on the city’s western outskirts between 1970 and 1984.
The next generation has pushed for a new life for the old icon.
Dubbo City Youth Council member Phoenix Aubusson-Foley’s vision was about to come to life through a partnership with Dubbo Regional Council (DRC), it was announced on Monday.
DRC youth development officer Jason Yelverton said applications had been lodged to open the theatre for one weekend in April as part of the National Youth Week Program.
The project had been in development since February 2015 and was originally the brainchild of Phoenix, then aged 12, Mr Yelverton said.
“Phoenix brought the idea up at a youth council meeting which was endorsed by the youth council, and since then we have been working to make the dream a reality,” he said.
“It has been a project that has received a lot of support from a small group of people who have been involved in the planning and development and local businesses and tradies have offered support to bring the old Dubbo icon back to life.”
The announcement reported by the Daily Liberal sparked a flood of interest on social media throughout Monday.
“So exciting, hopefully it will be the first of many!!,” ‘Stephanie Nott’ said in a post to Facebook.
‘SuperDice Eddo’ said: “Great news, here’s hoping it’s only the start of a new era for the drive in!”
In an interview with the Daily Liberal, Mr Yelverton said he was not surprised at the reaction.
“It’s been something that’s been a constant source of conversation ever since I was a kid and grew up in Dubbo,” he said.
“I was lucky enough to go when I was a little kid and went to ET, but since then it’s always been ‘why doesn’t it open, when’s it going to open?’.”
The Westview Drive-In officially opened on October 8, 1970 featuring the film Kelly’s Heroes starring Clint Eastwood.
It was the largest drive-in in country NSW with a capacity of 550 cars, state-of-the-art projectors and window-hanging speakers and was a popular haunt for locals.
“Many memories for young people and families were created for the fourteen years it operated,” Mr Yelverton said.
“The drive-in eventually closed in June 1984 due to low numbers of patrons, believed to be related to VHS home videos becoming popular.
“The Dubbo City Youth Council and Dubbo Regional Council look forward to releasing further details as they come to hand and to welcome people of all ages to once again experience the famed Night at the Drive-In.”