Before 2017, entertainment options in Corowa revolved around going to the pub or sports club for a drink and maybe a gamble. If you wanted to do anything else it involved a 45 minute drive to Wangaratta, Albury/Wodonga or Yarrawonga.

At the start of 2017, the Corowa Golf Club received a grant of almost $700,000 to convert a disused Ballroom in to a 58 seat gold class cinema along with a 100 person function room. The aims of the grant were to provide a new entertainment option for the community and help the club evolve its offer and financial stability.

In designing the facility, our design intention was to create a space unique to Corowa – avoiding the red curtain cliché of cinemas globally. The design needed to feel luxurious and welcoming to attract the whole community.

The design decisions were simple, replace black leather chairs with tan leather and red curtains and carpet to delightful greens. In a way, the colours also reflected the golf greens and river gum forests outside the building.

The project was delivered on budget, resolved planning and construction complexities with no major delays. The cinema opened to audiences before Christmas to capitalise on summer tourists.

At Regional Design Service, this project holds a special place in our hearts as our first engagement and first built project within 12 months of starting the practice.