Proponents of a proposed one-weekend return of Dubbo’s drive-in theatre anticipate the venture could bring people from the wider region.
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The announcement of an application to open the dormant attraction for the weekend of April 7-9 has sparked a wave of interest on social media.
The project has been developed by Dubbo City Youth Council in partnership with Dubbo Regional Council (DRC).
DRC youth development officer Jason Yelverton anticipated the drive-in could draw people from a wide area.
“I think it’s not going to be a hard sell at all, especially people who live west of Dubbo who drive past that big screen,” he said.
“There will be a lot of interest from around the region, I believe.”
Dubbo’s Westview Drive-In was officially opened on October 8, 1970.
In its heyday it was one of the largest in the state, having capacity for 550 cars and was a popular hangout, but closed in 1984.
Comments made on the Daily Liberal’s Facebook page also suggested the outdoor cinema event could be a drawcard for the city.
“I will come from coffs habour [sic],” ‘Ronnie Burns’ said in a post.
‘Cathryn Williamson’ tagged a number of people in a post to the Daily Liberal’s Facebook page, saying: “remember we drove past this site in Dubbo.”
‘Lyndell Giles’ replied to the comment, saying: “Road trip.”
The Heddon Greta Drive-In is almost four hours’ drive from Dubbo while one at Blacktown is more than four hours away by road.
The project has been in development since 2015, prompted by the vision of youth council member Phoenix Aubusson-Foley.
Mr Yelverton reported momentum was gathering, with support from various parties including the private owner of the drive-in site.
“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,” he said.
Faye Wheeler
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
