Drive-In Theaters in Australia

Drive-In Cinemas in Australia

Australia’s first drive-in cinema, the Skyline, opened on February 17, 1954, in Burwood, Victoria. Built by Hoyts, the opening night drew 2,000 cars competing for 600 parking spaces. The film was On the Riviera. Within a decade, over 230 drive-ins had opened across the country. At their peak in the 1960s and 1970s, Australia had approximately 330 drive-in theatres, making it one of the largest drive-in markets in the world alongside the United States and Canada.

Western Australia alone had more than 100 drive-ins at peak, earning it the title of “drive-in capital of the world.” Drive-ins were embedded in Australian suburban culture — sneaking into the drive-in hidden in the car boot was a teenage rite of passage for Baby Boomers and Gen X alike.

The decline began in the 1980s with improved television, VHS players, and the rise of multiplex cinemas. Rising land values accelerated closures as drive-in properties became more valuable for housing development. Today, roughly a dozen drive-ins continue to operate across the country.

Queensland: The Drive-In Heartland

Queensland has the highest concentration of surviving drive-ins in Australia. The tropical and subtropical climate allows year-round operation without the seasonal constraints faced by southern venues.

Yatala Drive-In near the Gold Coast is the last remaining drive-in in the Brisbane metropolitan area. Originally opened in 1974 as the Beenleigh single-screen, it has been expanded to three screens and now operates seven nights a week. Marketed as Australia’s most modern drive-in, Yatala is pet-friendly and accepts leashed dogs on the grounds.

Tors Drive-In in Charters Towers has operated continuously since 1966, making it one of the longest-running drive-ins in the country. Owned by the Snell family since 1990, Tors screens new releases in 4K digital but also regularly shows classic and cult films on 16mm and 35mm film — one of only a handful of drive-ins in the world that still projects celluloid.

Mareeba Drive-In near Cairns originally opened in 1960 as the Rodeo Drive-In. It closed in 1998 and reopened in 2002. The venue offers free camping with your movie ticket, making it a genuine outback experience.

Stardust Drive-In in Ayr is a small-town North Queensland venue that supplements its single-screen double features with an 18-hole mini-golf course and an enchanted garden on the grounds.

Victoria: Heritage Screens Under Pressure

Victoria is home to two of Australia’s most significant drive-ins, both facing uncertain futures due to land development pressures.

Dromana 3 Drive-In on the Mornington Peninsula is the oldest continuously operating drive-in in Australia. Heritage-listed and independently owned, Dromana has grown from one screen to four, including an outdoor deckchair cinema. Located about an hour from Melbourne, it operates year-round.

Village Coburg Drive-In in Melbourne’s northern suburbs accommodates 900 cars across three screens, making it the second-largest drive-in in Australia. The site features a 1950s-style diner and hosts a Sunday morning trash and treasure market. However, the land was sold in 2018 to Charter Hall for $12.5 million, with Village Cinemas leasing it back until 2028. The drive-in’s long-term future is uncertain.

The Lunar Drive-In in Dandenong — once Australia’s largest drive-in and oldest continuously operating venue — closed permanently in July 2023 due to surging land taxes. Its loss was widely mourned.

Recent Closures

The Tivoli Drive-In Theatre near Ipswich, Queensland, closed in November 2025 after nearly fifty years. Originally opened in 1976, it had been revived in 2007 by a local church. Declining attendance — from 250-300 cars on Saturday nights down to 50-120 — and an estimated $770,000 in looming upgrade costs made continuation impossible.

The Wonga Drive-In near Cairns closed in July 2011. Only the outline of the ramps and one screen structure remain at the site.

Visiting Tips

All Australian drive-ins now use FM radio transmission for audio. You must have a working FM radio in your car — phone radio apps use internet streaming, not FM reception. Many modern cars have radios that auto-shutoff after 15-30 minutes of idle operation, so carrying a portable FM radio with fresh batteries is a reliable backup. Some venues such as Coburg offer radio hire for around $5.

Gates typically open about an hour before showtime. Movies start at dusk, so expect later starts in summer (around 8:30–9:00 PM) and earlier in winter (around 6:30–7:00 PM). Double features are common and included in the single ticket price.

SUVs, utes, and hatchbacks are ideal for tailgate viewing. Most venues allow you to sit outside your car on chairs or blankets. Support the on-site canteen when you can — concession sales are a major revenue source that keeps these venues financially viable.

Popular sessions during school holidays and new release weekends can sell out. Online booking is available at most venues and recommended for peak times.

More Countries

Browse the full country directory to find drive-in cinemas across Asia and Oceania.