Iconic drive-In cinema left in ruins, mounted police in Townsville after Tropical Cyclone Kirrily

Queensland’s oldest drive-in cinema is in tatters after Cyclone Kirrily lashed the Burdekin.

Queensland’s oldest drive-in cinema is in tatters after Cyclone Kirrily lashed the Burdekin.

Stardust Drive-In owners Frank and Suzzi Jerkic heard “a loud, big crash” amid howling winds on the Thursday night of the storm, waking the next morning to find their 30-metre big screen decimated.

“The whole thing just opened like a sardine tin and crumbled,” Mr Jerkic said.

The cinema, on Kilrie Rd in Ayr, first opened in 1964, and is one of only a handful of drive-in cinemas left in Queensland.

Frank and Suzzi Jerkic survey the Damage left behind by Cyclone Kirrily at the Stardust Drive-In. Picture: Cas Garvey

“We have one of the biggest drive-in screens in Queensland … now we’ve also got the only see-through screen where you can sit and watch the cane fields under the stars,” Mr Jerkic laughed.

Mrs Jerkic said the screen was refurbished after Cyclone Yasi hit North Queensland in 2011, and is hoping insurance will cover a quick rebuild.

“It was crazy,” she said. “It got so gusty before it got dark and that’s when (the screen damage) happened. We watched it all. It just peeled off.

“The gusts kept changing. One big one came through and knocked a big tree down, then it came from the other way and tore through the screen.

BEFORE: The Stardust Drive in Theatre in happier times. Picture: Facebook (Visit Burdekin, North Queensland)

“We have the generators going to keep our fridges and freezers full of food going … I’m just hoping the power comes back on soon and I can start our coffee machine up because I really need a coffee.”

As well as the drive-in theatre, Stardust also runs their Silver Screens and Coffee Beans cafe and a 70-seat indoor cinema.

AFTER: Damage left behind by Cyclone Kirrily at the Stardust Drive-In. Picture: Cas Garvey

“We bought it in 1989 and planted all these trees, which I’m now cursing because of the leaves” Mrs Jerkic laughed, “but it’s a very peaceful place to sit here and relax, it’s what I like about it and people come to the coffee shop and sit and talk.”

And as for what movie will likely be playing when the drive-in celebrates its 60th birthday in September?

“Probably ‘Gone With The Wind’,” Mr Jerkic laughed.

Mounted police join TC Kirrily effort

Brisbane-based mounted police and horses who were brought to Townsville to assist with Australia Day celebrations and the Survival Day march have been redeployed to help with cyclone preparations.

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is expected to make landfall near Townsville on Thursday night.

Acting Officer in Charge of Townsville police station Craig Robertson said the horses were initially expected to add to the city’s capabilities with multiple events to be held on The Strand.

Mounted police from Brisbane join TC Kirrily effort. Popeye with Senior Constable Teamille McKenzie. Picture: Evan Morgan

However, with the cancellation of those events, the mounted police and horses were now assisting with messaging around Tropical Cyclone Kirrily.

“It is a rare capability for North Queensland, so they will be in open spaces ensuring they provide advice about cyclone preparation and evacuations, and they are still here over the weekend,” he said.

The mounted police will also help with flooding and cyclone-related activities.

They will return to Brisbane after the weekend.

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily January 2024: The last plane just took of from Townsville. Picture: Blair Jackson

Last flight out of Townsville

The final plane, bound for Sydney, went wheels up from Townsville Airport about 9.30am Thursday.

Airport general manager Brendan Cook said all large passenger planes were gone, the few small planes to stay at the airport were chained down, and all potential hazards that could get blown away like bins, fixtures and gates were disassembled.

About 7am Friday, workers and Australian Defence Force personnel will return to the airport to get things back up and running.

“At the moment we’re looking to have the terminal, best case scenario, reopened by 3pm (Friday) so there could be flying tomorrow afternoon,” Mr Cook said.

“The airlines are still working their schedules hopefully for tomorrow afternoon, tomorrow evening. That might come forward depending on damage, that might go back,” he said.

Thursday afternoon and overnight the power at the airport will be turned off, but the security systems will not, which includes the carpark cameras.

All flights should be business as usual Saturday, Mr Cook said.

North Queenslanders take in cool weather

Locals were taking advantage of the cooler Townsville weather this morning with many exercising in the rain ahead of Cyclone Kirrily making landfall tonight.

For many, a looming cyclone may be enough to keep you inside but plenty of keen residents on Thursday weren’t phased by the wet weather and ominous clouds.

Ally Vardy, 25, and Maddy Ryan, 22, were out enjoying a run in the wet weather this morning ahead of Cyclone Kirrily making landfall

Ally Vardy a 25-year-old Marine Biologist and Maddy Ryan a 22-year-old medical administrator were full of energy on their morning run in the rain.

“Running in cyclones is a nice cool change from the Townsville heat, and the humidity has dropped a bit,” Ms Ryan said.

“It was nice and sunny this morning but turned pretty quickly.”

Govana Cvetkovic enjoyed the park on the Strand this morning with her three kids this morning ahead of Cyclone Kirrily making landfall

Govana Cvetkovic and her family live close to The Strand and was out enjoying the mild weather with her three kids on Thursday before the winds picked up.

“We do feel okay about it but we are still cautious because it’s unpredictable and we don’t really know what it’s going to be like,” she said.

“We’ve never experienced a cyclone before but I think preparation is the most important and just making sure we’ve got everything.”

Ella Riethmuller, 23, and Denby O'Keefe, 18, at Juliette's Gelateria in Townsville are planning on closing early ahead of Cyclone Kirrily.

The kids didn’t seem bothered by the rain at all as they made the most of the puddles forming on the strand.

Many businesses remained open for the morning serving coffees to customers out in the drizzle but many plan on shutting around lunch.

The staff at the locally owned gelateria, Juliette’s, had plans to close up shop early, around 11am or 12pm, depending on the weather.

Originally published as Iconic drive-In cinema left in ruins, mounted police in Townsville after Tropical Cyclone Kirrily