Nambour Cinema revival puts the magic back into moviegoing

The Nambour Cinema & Event Centre team includes (freom left) Halle Watson, Luke Warburton and Jemma Baddock

by Cameron Outridge

Luke Warburton knew that, post-Covid, cinemas had to offer more than just a film—they had to bring back the magic of the big-screen experience. 

His newly-revamped Nambour Cinema & Event Centre is off to a flying start, delivering premium comfort with recliner seating, new laser projectors, and immersive sound. 

The venue rivals the best on the Sunshine Coast, all while keeping prices affordable and drawing moviegoers from across the hinterland.

With Nambour rallying behind the revived venue, Mr Warburton told a recent Nambour Chamber of Commerce meeting he was confident in the cinema’s future. “People have been so welcoming. It always made sense to invest in Nambour,” he said.

His journey in the industry began in 2015, when he bought Bribie Cinema, a struggling two-screen venue. He successfully turned it around, but Covid-19 was a massive hurdle for independents. “The cinemas that came out on the other side were ones that were ready to weather that storm,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Mr Warburton kept his business afloat, positioning it to bounce back. When Caloundra Cinemas struggled post-Covid, he saw another opportunity. 

“These days people want that little bit more. They want the coffee, they want the hot food, they want the wine, they want the cocktails and they want the recliners. But they also want it at a fair price. So we put recliners in at Caloundra not long after we took it on and instantly it was a hit.”

Applying the same model in Nambour, Mr Warburton seized the chance to take over when the previous operator couldn’t sustain the site.

“We were lucky enough to have Cinema 4, which hadn’t been touched yet by the previous operators, to just do a full gut and turn it into a full recliner cinema. So Cinema 4 has a big screen, a brand new laser projector, immersive sound. It’s just unreal. It certainly rivals anything else that is on the Coast.”

The renovations were ambitious. “We turned this place around in just over three months,” he said. New bathrooms, disabled facilities, a parents’ room and a full foyer refurb. 

He credited the C-Square landlord for sharing his vision. 

“There were other cinemas that I was looking at, but again, their landlords were nowhere near as proactive as the one that I have here. This is just one small investment that he will do here in C-Square. In the next 18 months, C-Square will look very different.”

Importantly, Luke ensured local businesses were involved in the refurbishment. 

“We used local trades, we used local suppliers, we used as much local as we could,” he said.

Nambour cinema set to bring live entertainment back to town

Nambour’s newly revamped Cinema & Event Centre is not just about movies—it’s set to bring live entertainment back to the hinterland. Mr Warburton has his sights set on reviving the venue’s once-thriving live acts scene, which in the past saw stars like Guy Sebastian and many touring bands perform in town. 

With the venue boasting a 330-seat auditorium, a massive stage, double-storey dressing rooms, and a professional fly system for backdrops, Mr Warburton said the space was primed for live shows. 

“A lot of festivals and outdoor events are shutting down because of high insurance and production costs. But we’re here, ready to go. We don’t have to worry about extra toilets or extra insurances—it’s all in place,” he said.

While the cinema remains the backbone of the business, Mr Warburton said he was actively working to build up live theatre and event bookings. 

“We’ve already got a few groups booked in and we’re still exploring stage lighting and production options to find the best fit,” he said.

In addition to securing touring acts, Mr Warburton is also committed to making the space affordable for local groups, including dance schools, theatre groups, and local schools. 

“We want this to be a community hub where local performers can take to the stage, and at the same time, we’ll look at bringing in big-name acts. Who’s to say we can’t have those big concerts in Nambour again?” he said.