While the fate of Nyngan’s historic Palais Theatre hangs in the balance, Anne Quarmby reminisces on her memories of the iconic building and discusses the tough decision council will have to make.
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Growing up visiting the theatre for Mrs Quarmby was a Friday night family tradition. She recalls taking their blankets and sitting up the front of the pictures to see what new release would be featuring on the big screen.
“We used to go to the movies there all the time,” Mrs Quarmby recalls.
“[My family and I] would come and go every week up until I was a teenager, and when I was a teenager I can remember we used to go to the movies and after we’d pack up and go to Reggie’s cafe and have ice cream.”
“In the summer the movies were outside and they had canvas seating, and in winter time you would be inside.”
In particular, Mrs Quarmby reminisced about Vera Barrow, usher of the theatre who would walk around the isles and shine her torch on anyone getting up to mischief.
“There was a lady named Mrs Vera Barrow and she used to be one of the ladies that come around and shone the torches when kids were noisy,” she joked.
Mrs Quarmby discussed the theatre’s various uses such as its use for outdoor cricket, as one of the safe zones during the 1990 floods, and more recently its use as a dance studio for the Western Studio of Performing Arts.
“We always attended when the community concerts have been on, like dancing, I’ve had a granddaughter dancing since before kindergarten,” Mrs Quarmby said.
“Even when the floods were on that’s where I ended up being moved into because the water was up more than half way into the town then.”
“That was one of the high spots where people were able to keep out of the water, they were also at the top of the RSL club and at the railway station, unless people had two storey houses.”
“That’s my very vague memory of it a long time ago, some 50 years ago now.”
The theatre has currently been closed for a number of weeks after structural engineers deemed the building an immediate threat to public safety.
Story continues after survey
At September’s council meeting, it was resolved to seek advice from architects the costs involved to renovate and restore the existing structure, or to replace it with a new facility.
Mrs Quarmby said while she’s not in favour of tearing down the historical icon, she understands the long-term cost effects that need to be considered.
“I think over the years the council have poured money into it, and I know it’s an icon, but it’s going to keep costing us more money,” Mrs Quarmby said.
Supported by Mrs Quarmby is a proposed option for the building to maintain the front facade and replace the back with a new building, however she recognises the council need to do what’s best in the long term.
“It’s a timber building, its not brick, you just have to look up and balance out what is the best long term … in 10 years time will they have to pour another $200,000 in it to maintain it?,” she said.
“I think the council are doing a wonderful job doing what they’re doing.”
“We need to look at the purpose of it and how its being utilised.
”They don’t make these decisions lightly, it all goes to council and anyone can talk to councillors and pass on their concerns, but you can’t please everybody.”
“it’s not an easy answer.”