Nedlands Art Deco icon The Windsor Cinema has hit the market

Built almost 90 years ago and still standing proudly on Stirling Highway, Windsor Cinemas is on the market.

Offers have been invited for the site at 98-100 Stirling Highway, currently home to beloved local independent cinemas Luna Palace.

The property listing describes the 2,532sqm site as an “iconic town centre supersite in premium location”, with “high density large scale future redevelopment options”.

“The Windsor Cinema is leased to renowned local operators Luna Palace Cinemas who have refurbished the property including new seating,” said Ray White Commercial WA agent Stephen Harrison, who is marketing the property alongside agent Michael Milne.

“The Nedlands location and demographic is ideal for a boutique Arthouse cinema operation.”

“The undeniable position, land content, large span buildings and income stream will be of broad appeal to investors and developers alike,” added Milne.

“The buildings are not heritage listed although attractive elements are certainly worth retaining as part of any future redevelopment.”

While the 1937-built cinema’s distinctive Art Deco features – including its blue tower with vibrant red stripes – make it an immediately recognisable landmark of the area, the Windsor is not currently listed on the State Heritage Register.

The most recent assessment by the Heritage Council of WA in 2020 concluded the cinema “does not have sufficient cultural heritage significance at the State level for inclusion in the State Register”.

The assessment document goes on to detail that the cinema is “a good representative example of a 1930s suburban cinema, which reflected the hope and optimism of the inter-war period,” however compares it to the Cygnet Theatre in Como, which is described as “a highly intact and fine example of a cinema in the Inter-War Functionalist style”, and “the least altered of the 1930s suburban cinemas of Perth that remain in operation. It is therefore, a more intact example of its type.”

A current change.org petition “Save Perth’s Last Art Deco Cinema! Heritage List The Windsor Now!” has almost reached its 5000 signature goal, which follows a long-running effort by the Art Deco Society to officially protect the building.

Image Credit: Supplied