Brief History

• Designed by Llewellyn Williams (who also designed Kirkaldies & Stains (now David Jones)
• Built 1924 as the ‘de Luxe’, last surviving of the three built in that period
• Had a Wurlitzer organ, played silent movies
• Robert Kerridge’s Kerridge Odeon Theatre Corp bought and changed name to ‘The Embassy’ in 1946
• 1992 Brierley Investments bought for RNZ Ballet in 1992
• Embassy Trust formed to buy Embassy 1996. Some upgrading from 1998
• WCC took over ownership, trust disbanded, 2003
• Major strengthening completed for ‘LOR: The Return of the King’ in December 2003
• About $5m spent since 1998, but full refurbishment never completed.