Drive-in theatre speaker from the Sundown Drive-In, Canberra

This speaker comes from the Sundown Drive-in which operated in South Canberra. It was a vital part of the drive-in experience and would have been hung on the top of a partially lowered car window so patrons could hear the film they were watching from the comfort of their vehicle. 

At its opening in March 1969, the Sundown had a distinctly Australian theme – the food and drink stand was called the Tuckerbox and ushers delivered snacks to your car on horseback, while wearing khaki uniforms and drover hats. The venue was designed by Canberran architect Enrico Taglietti who planned space for 603 cars with the capacity to extend to 1,000. To cope with the icy Canberra winters and ensure the comfort of patrons, management installed in-car heaters, the first such innovation in Australia. 

American-style drive-in movie theatres – essentially a large outdoor screen and a parking area – arrived in Australia in 1954. Over time, 330 drive-ins opened across Australia before they fell from favour, and all but disappeared by the 1990s. Drive-in theatres have since been coming back into fashion as some operators recognise their distinctive, kitschy attraction.