Paradiso

Statement of Significance

Paradiso, 160-168 James Street, a c. 1970s complex refurbished in 1992 and opened as Cinema Paradiso, has historical and social value for being an arthouse cinema for almost thirty years, and for its connections to and promotion of the Italian culture through the Italian Film Festival.

Physical Description

Shopfront on ground floor and former cinema space located up a flight of stairs.

History

The area to the north of Perth (now known as Northbridge) was valued by the Whadjuk Nyoongar for its low lying and swampy lakes system, which provided abundant resources. After colonisation, this land was not settled as quickly as drier areas on the ridge of Perth. In 1854 some of the swampy land to the north of Perth was drained producing fertile land for farming. As the population grew during the convict era of the 1850s the land was subdivided into allotments circa 1860 and taken up by discharged soldiers, artisans and small landholders. The area at this period was characterised by small cottages and businesses. In 1881 the railway from Fremantle to Guildford was opened and became the main transport route. From that period commerce and trade tended to focus on smaller commercial enterprises and manufacturing to the north. It was less fashionable to live north of the railway line, however the area was close to the city and during the 1890s and early 1900s was substantially redeveloped with further subdivision of lots and mixed residential and commercial development. This was an immediate response to the tripling of the State’s population in the recent decade due to the gold boom, and a pressing demand for affordable accommodation. A number of trade and community organisations had their origins in the area at this time. Over the years the population of the area changed as people relocated to suburban areas of the city. As a result, Northbridge became the home for successive migrant communities. for example, communities including Greek, Italian, Chinese and more recently Vietnamese migrants have settled here as property remained relatively cheap and had the advantage of being close to the city. These communities have over the years given this area a distinctive character, generally recycling the existing buildings rather than redeveloping the area. Northbridge, named because it is just north of Perth across the railway bridge, was approved as a suburb name in 1982. Current Lot 101 James Street was originally four houses. The Metropolitan Water Supply Survey plan dated 1949 shows two single houses at No. 160 and 163, and a semi-detached pair at Nos. 166-168 on the corner of James Street and Mountain Terrace. Between 1965 and 1970 the corner pair of houses were demolished and a new large building erected. Between 1970 and 1974 the house at No. 60 was demolished for a new building. By 1977 the middle house was developed and there was a two storey complex with three street front outlets. The complex was redeveloped in the early 1990s by Sydney-based Ron Regan of Entrevision Pty. Ltd and opened in 1992 as Cinema Paradiso. Regan had previously leased the Astor Cinema in 1988, effectively saving it from demolition. Cinema Paradiso had four cinemas, and operated as an arthouse cinema, screening international film festivals, particularly the Italian Film Festival, over several decades. It was named after the 1988 Italian film-lovers classic. Cinema Paradiso traded under the Luna Palace banner for 20 years before it became known as Palace Cinema Paradiso in 2018. It closed in 2019 during the COVID-19 pandemic and permanently closed in June 2020.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity. Medium level of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

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