Wikipedia

IMAX Melbourne

IMAX Melbourne is an IMAX movie theatre in Carlton, Melbourne, Australia. It is the largest IMAX theatre in the southern hemisphere, and the second largest in the world.[a] It is owned and operated by Museums Victoria and is located eight-storeys beneath the Melbourne Museum. It features IMAX's dual laser projector,[1] as well as an IMAX 15/70 film projector.[2]

IMAX Melbourne
IMAX Melbourne main entrance
Map
AddressRathdowne St, Carlton VIC 3053
Melbourne
Australia
Coordinates37°48′12″S 144°58′14″E / 37.80326762852938°S 144.97067585376553°E / -37.80326762852938; 144.97067585376553
Public transitTram: Tram route 86 or 96 to the corner of Nicholson and Gertrude Streets.

Train: City Loop train to Parliament Station.

Bus: Routes 250, 251 and 402 to Rathdowne Street.
OwnerMuseums Victoria
TypeCinema
Opened1998
Website
https://imaxmelbourne.com.au

History

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Initial plans for the theatre were drafted in 1994 as part of the renovation of the Melbourne Museum.[3] Final plans for the theatre were announced in 1996,[4] with construction scheduled to begin in May of that year.[5][6] After delays, final bids for the project were solicited in September of 1996.[7] During construction, more delays were encountered[8] due to contaminated soil and water seepage.[9]

The cinema opened in March of 1998 with a screening of the film Everest.[10][11] At the time of opening, the screen was 31mx23m.[10]

In 2013, the cinema closed in order to receive a new IMAX digital xenon system that was installed alongside the existing 15/70 projector, as well as to receive an upgraded screen.[12]

In 2015, the cinema was closed yet again in order to replace the IMAX digital xenon system with a new upgraded IMAX dual laser projection system, as well as an upgraded IMAX 12 Channel sound system.[13] In order to make room for the new dual laser projectors, the 15/70 projector was removed and put into storage.[14]

In 2017, after negotiations with the IMAX Corporation, the 15/70 projector was reinstalled alongside the dual laser projectors for the release of Dunkirk.[15]

With the release of Oppenheimer in 2023, IMAX Melbourne was one of only 30 cinemas in the world, and the only location in the southern hemisphere able to project the film on 15/70.[b]

The cinema is located eight-storeys beneath the Melbourne Museum, its screen is currently the largest in Australia, and the second largest in the world (32mx23m). The cinema seats 461 people, including 25 VIP seats.[20] The cinema features an IMAX 12 Channel Digital sound system as well as one IMAX dual laser projector[13] and one IMAX GT3D 15/70 film projector.[14]

Comparison to other IMAX theatres in Australia

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Currently, there is only one other IMAX theatre in Australia, which is IMAX Sydney. Compared to IMAX Sydney, IMAX Melbourne is larger in size, while also featuring a 15/70 projector, unlike IMAX Sydney. IMAX currently has plans to open up to 40 more theatres in Australia,[21][22][23][24] with one of those locations planned to be in Canberra.[25][26][27]

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  •  
    IMAX Melbourne standard seating.
  •  
    Exterior wide view.
  •  
    View of cinema screen.
  •  
    Interior view of the theatre.[c]
  •  
    Display in cinema foyer.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The largest theatre in the world is Traumpalast Leonberg Theater, located in Leonberg, Germany.[citation needed]
  2. ^ Attributed to many sources.[16][17][2][18][19]
  3. ^ Image displayed on screen is not utilising full screen area.

References

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  1. ^ Har-Even, Benny. "Interview: The Man Keeping IMAX Film Alive Down Under – Part 1". Forbes. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Only two people in Australia know how to show Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer in its full IMAX glory". ABC News. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  3. ^ STEVENS, J (1994) 'New museum a big step towards more mature city', Age, The (Melbourne, Australia), 2 Jul, p. 17, (online NewsBank).
  4. ^ Gettler, L (1996) 'High and mighty movies, coming to a screen near you', Age, The (Melbourne, Australia), 2 Apr, p. 3, (online NewsBank).
  5. ^ BRIEFS. (1996, April 3). Australian Financial Review, The (Australia), p. 44. Available from NewsBank: Access Australia and International News: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.slv.vic.gov.au/apps/news/document-view?p=AUNB&docref=news/18BD4832D5219390.
  6. ^ KIDMAN, M (1996) 'Giant screen cinema company may float', Sydney Morning Herald, The (Australia), 12 Aug, p. 31, (online NewsBank).
  7. ^ Skulley, M (1996) 'Six builders asked to bid for museum', Australian Financial Review, The (Australia), 26 Sep, p. 47, (online NewsBank).
  8. ^ by MATTHEW KIDMAN, E (1997) 'Sharemarket Action', Sydney Morning Herald, The (Australia), 15 Jul, p. 30, (online NewsBank).
  9. ^ COSTA, G (1997) 'Giant-screen cinema delayed by contaminated soil', Age, The (Melbourne, Australia), 24 Jul, p. 3, (online NewsBank).
  10. ^ a b Lyon, K (1998) 'Eight storeys of rock-and-roll and snow', Age, The (Melbourne, Australia), 14 Mar, p. 8, (online NewsBank).
  11. ^ BOREHAM, G (1998) 'Big picture, tangled plot', Sunday Age, The (Melbourne, Australia), 11 Oct, p. 5, (online NewsBank).
  12. ^ Quinn, Karl (10 March 2013). "Biggest screen gets maximum upgrade". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  13. ^ a b "IMAX 4K Laser | IMAX Melbourne". imaxmelbourne.com.au. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  14. ^ a b "IMAX 1570 Film | IMAX Melbourne". imaxmelbourne.com.au. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  15. ^ Quinn, K (2017) 'Astor's Dunkirk ambition shot down', Sunday Age, The (Melbourne, Australia), 16 Jul, p. 14, (online NewsBank).
  16. ^ Larasati, Dyah Ayu (31 July 2023). "Here are the 30 Theaters That Are Showing 'Oppenheimer' in Imax 70mm". Collider. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  17. ^ Burke, Kelly (18 July 2023). "'Precious cargo': the ultra-rare, 18km-long Oppenheimer Imax reel screening in Melbourne". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  18. ^ "IMAX". IMAX. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  19. ^ Guerrasio, Jason. "Only 30 theaters in the world are showing 'Oppenheimer' in Imax 70 mm, the way Christopher Nolan intended people to see it — here they all are". Business Insider. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  20. ^ "IMAX EVENTS & CINEMA HIRE" (PDF).
  21. ^ "IMAX wants 40 screens in Australia by 2029 | ScreenHub Australia - Film & Television Jobs, News, Reviews & Screen Industry Data". www.screenhub.com.au. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  22. ^ Keast, Jackie (14 March 2024). "IMAX outlines its ambitious plans for Australia". IF Magazine. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  23. ^ Weintraub, Steven; Jones, Tamera (20 May 2024). "IMAX Reveals Their Ambitious 6-Year Plan to Expand Across the Globe". Collider. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  24. ^ James Madden, E (2024) 'IMAX goes for growth with 40-screen goal', Australian, The (Australia), 13 May, p. 20, (online NewsBank).
  25. ^ "Canberra set to get its first IMAX cinema screen". The Canberra Times. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  26. ^ Slatter, Sean (31 July 2024). "IMAX to partner with Dendy on new Canberra location". IF Magazine. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Imax". canberra.dendy.com.au. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
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