An iconic drive-in cinema – once crowned the largest in Australia – has been demolished after almost seven decades of operation.
Onlookers captured footage of the moment an excavator tore down the large cinema screen at the Lunar Drive-in, located in Melbourne’s southeast.
The video, posted to Reddit with the caption “End of an Era”, was met with an outpouring of disappointment online by former patrons of the Dandenong cinema.
Earlier this year, the cinema took to Facebook to reveal it would be closing out decades of operation, citing cost of living pressures.
The cinema’s final show aired on July 9.
“We’d like to thank all of our loyal patrons, our wonderful staff, past and present and all of our supplier friends in the industry for a fantastic 21 years,” the company said.
“Over six weeks we’ll be running the latest blockbuster movies along with some drive-in classics. We look forward to seeing many of you before we close.
“Thank you for being a supporter of Lunar Drive-in, Dandenong.”
The cinema was reportedly still welcoming 400,000 guests a year prior to closing.
Owner David Kilderry told 7 News the cost of keeping the doors open had become too high.
“Fifteen acres of land … that’s hard to justify when there’s no one here in the daytime,” he said.
“And, we only operate a few hours each night.
“We’re particularly sad for our customers and our staff but also some of our long-term suppliers.”
Among the rising costs was land tax, which reportedly ballooned to a staggering $1000 a day, and was expected to double within a year.
The closing out of the iconic date-night spot was lamented by many locals and former patrons alike online, some of whom weren’t aware it had shut at all.
“Ah man this makes me sad,” wrote one user on website Reddit.
“The hours I have spent watching that screen.”
Another wrote: “So sad, gutted we didn‘t go see a movie in its last few weeks.
“That’s what you get when council charges ridiculous rates.”
One user wrote: “Still hurts to see it”.
Others shared memories from the cinema’s many years of operation.
“First Drive-In when I got my license,” one user wrote.
“I watched Mad Max on the big screen – (it) was great.”
Over the final weeks, the cinema play a raft of recent blockbusters and classic films.
Among the iconic films aired over the final days were American Graffiti and Jurassic Park.