6/7/1927

9/8/1924These two receipts are from the Heather RANDALL - Receipts Collection.  Over 78 items collected by her grandmother and attached in a scrap book.  Items were purchased mainly by her husband John Reedlands CHIBNALL, farmer of Middleton.

'P.M.WELLS' was spotted by Stan WOODS who has kindly provided the following information about the life of Percy Middleton WELLS & the significant influence he had in the life of Goolwa.                              

'Plaque in Centennial Hall foyer' by Stan WOODS.

Percy Middleton WELLS moved with his family from Adelaide establishing a pharmaceutical and optometry business in Cadell Street in 1921. He took a keen interest in civic life and was elected Chairman of the Goolwa Council in 1928.

Unable to persuade the Institute Committee to build a cinema, Percy personally financed the building of Centenary Hall and operated it as a cinema from 1929 until it finally closed after his death in 1960.

Percy travelled the world returning with great works of art and curiosities that he displayed in the Hall among which was the rare Fotoplayer music machine that was purchased to accompany silent films. Unfortunately, by the time it arrived from New York, 'talkies' had been invented and it was never used as intended.

The Fotoplayer is the only one known to be in Australia and is now on display at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.

The 'Hall' itself was the largest of its kind south of Adelaide at the time it was built and was equipped with the then state of the art sound and projection equipment.

Percy had a strong sense of passion for his community, and this was reflected in an estate that ensured very generous terms under which the Corinthian Lodge could acquire the building after his death, they in turn gifted it to the local Council in 1987.

Building and operating the town's picture theatre at his personal expense was a grand gesture that revitalized Goolwa and added to the community's capacity to grow into the future.

Centenary Hall was originally opened by Captain Hain DODD on January 27th, 1930, in time to host the year-long celebrations of "Back to Goolwa" in that year.

It was refurbished by Alexandrina Council and Country Arts SA as part of the Regional Centre for Culture 2012 "Just Add Water" celebrations.