The heritage-listed Narooma School of Arts Soldiers’ Wall Memorial Hall today operates as the Kinema. It is a much loved boutique cinema that combines old world charm and art deco ambience with the latest digital projection system.

It is leased to an independent cinema operator, currently Jade Griffiths’ Narooma Kinema Pty Ltd.The multi-purpose hall was built in 1925 as Narooma’s memorial to its First World War soldiers. It has screened films since 1927 but been a dedicated cinema only since 1971 when it was first leased to an independent operator. It is believed to be the second oldest continuously screening cinema still in existence in NSW.

Earlier lessees Dennis Davis and Stephen Walsh (1986-2001) saw the Hall’s potential and dramatically changed the ‘tired’ auditorium to create the illusion of the ‘picture palaces’ of the 1930s and 1940s in art deco style, where the venue was as important as the show. In 1990 they changed its name from the Narooma Theatre to the Kinema. 

In a staged project from 2014 to 2018, the School of Arts undertook major conservation work and renovations, and enhanced the main auditorium to facilitate live performances.