Morwell: The Village Twin cinema on Buckley St abandoned for almost 30 years

A Morwell cinema abandoned for almost 30 years has become a trash-filled, syringe-littered eyesore used by squatters hiding in its maze of corridors and rooms.

What does the future hold for the historic Village Twin cinema complex in Morwell? Picture: Jack Colantuono

A former cinema complex in the Latrobe Valley that has been abandoned for almost 30 years has become a rubbish and syringe-strewn eyesore used by squatters who hide in the labyrinth of dark corridors and rooms.

The Village Twin on Buckley St in Morwell has been left to rot after Village Cinemas opened the Mid Valley 8 site near the Mid Valley Shopping Centre in the mid-1990s.

Local Peter Kritten said the old cinema was in desperate need of being replaced..

“It’s a huge chunk of space, we’d love to see its redemption, even if it’s used as something regular like office space or it could be a department store of some sort,” Mr Kritten said.

“I know there isn’t much down this end of Buckley St, but I think the community would be welcoming to something new in town.

“The building has a vintage appeal to it, so I don’t think knocking it down and starting over would be a good idea, but it should get cleaned and flushed out so it becomes something at least.”

He said he witnessed squatters sneaking in and out of the cinema but minded his own business.

The vandalised and ransacked insides of the Village Twin. Picture: Jack Colantuono

“It’s pretty disturbing to see but at the same time we don’t know everyone’s circumstances and what they have been through,” Mr Kritten said.

“I understand people might stay there for shelter but if syringes have been floating around in the rubbish it’s clear we know what is happening — and it’s a hazard for families and children passing by.

“If the building was repurposed into a business, it would get rid of anyone trying to stay in there and therefore this side of town would not only feel safer, but cleaner.”

Morwell Historical Society president Alan McFarlane said the site had become an eyesore.

“It is a real pity — it sits in the middle of our CBD with nothing happening,” he said.

“I know that it was purchased by someone years ago who had an interest in films, and he was apparently going to get it going with some old films, but that never eventuated.”

Businessman John Leckey purchased the property from Village and was able to temporarily restore the cinema but after he died his family struggled to sell the site.

CFA crews were called to the Village Twin building after it went up in flames in December last year. Picture: Facebook/Traralgon Fire Brigade

However, the property was eventually purchased by Melbourne businessman Tony Klein, and according to a listing on Commercial Real Estate, it was sold to another buyer in March 2022.

Before opening as the “Maya theatre” in the 1950s, the site was a bowling alley and a slot track which also hosted local church groups.

But now the orange carpets and rows of red have been replaced with broken pieces of furniture, rubbish and syringes.

A Victoria police spokesman confirmed squatters had been living “on and off” in the property for some time, and officers had been called to the address multiple times to force them from the property.
The spokesperson said since the building was large and had many rooms, it made it difficult for police to find the squatters.

The squatter activity also caused concerns for surrounding shoppers.

One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said she heard about the squatters and discovered syringes in the rubbish behind the property a few weeks ago.

Police sealed off the building with tape after the fire. Picture: Jack Colantuono

The cinema has also been vandalised with graffiti and was torched in December last year.
An FRV spokesman said crews were forced to wear breathing apparatus to get inside the complex after reports a person was inside.

“One person was retrieved and handed to Ambulance Victoria for further treatment of smoke inhalation,” the spokesman said.

The fire spread to the roof space and crews tried to make access by removing part of the roof.
An aerial appliance was used to help tackle the blaze and the scene was deemed under control within a few hours.
A police spokeswoman said a 32-year-old man of no fixed address was located inside, arrested at the scene and was released pending further inquiries.

A 28-year-old Morwell man was also interviewed by police and released pending further inquiries.

Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fire which is being treated as suspicious.

The complex is known for its historical significance and was talked about on the “Old Shops Australia” Facebook group, which has almost 400,000 members.

User Karlie Hartland said she remembered going to the cinema when she was a kid to watch Toy Story and Independence Day.

User Laursy JJ said when she was younger she watched The Little Mermaid, while Morwell local Brian Smith remembered watching Jurassic Park and Four Weddings and a Funeral at the cinema.

Helene Macey wrote that she remembered the complex’s carpet and also visited when she was a kid.

“It was open in 1987 – I went to see Dirty Dancing, but I really can’t remember when it closed down,” Ms Macey shared.

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A Heritage Victoria spokeswoman said the cinema was not included in the Victorian Heritage register, had not been nominated or considered for inclusion and was not currently subject to a heritage overlay in the Latrobe planning scheme.

Latrobe City Council was unable to comment on the Village Twin due to the building being privately owned.

The site owner was contacted for comment.