Adelaide Film Festival

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:39): Today marks the first day of the 2025 Adelaide Film Festival. This celebration of cinema is when filmmaker and audiences come together for local and international film premieres. It is also the perfect time to reflect on how four generations of Adelaide's Wallis family members have contributed to the proud film culture we celebrate today.

When we think of South Australian icons, few stories shine brighter than that of the Wallis family. This is a family whose love of film, heritage and community has shaped the way generations of South Australians have experienced the magic of cinema. Long before the first Adelaide Film Festival lit up our screens, the Wallis family was already bringing the wonder of cinema to local communities.

Hugh Wallis, a refrigeration mechanic, had a vision and took a risk, determined to make film accessible to everyone. This led to the opening of Adelaide's first drive-in theatre, the Blueline Drive-In, at West Beach in 1953. The drive-in was the foundation for what became Wallis Cinemas, and for more than 70 years the Wallis name has demonstrated innovation and commitment to fostering a love of film and storytelling.

Under the leadership of Hugh's son, Bob Wallis, the company expanded, never losing heart for community or respect for heritage. This was evident in 1983, when Hugh and Bob Wallis purchased the Piccadilly Theatre on O'Connell Street. This iconic building was saved from demolition and lovingly restored, maintaining its elegance, character and original name when it reopened in 1990.

In recent years, the Piccadilly Cinema has undergone major renovation works to ensure its heritage is preserved and the building remains a tribute to its past and a vision for the future of entertainment. Lorna Wallis recently passed on the reins to her daughter, Michelle Wallis. It is now Michelle's leadership and guidance that will continue to shape the future of Wallis Entertainment.

Fourth-generation Deanna Wallis, the director of Wallis Entertainment, told me of her family's exciting vision for the future. Just like her grandparents and mother, Deanna is not daunted by taking a risk to make a vision a reality. In her role as director, she is all fired up to support her mother, Michelle, and honour the family's remarkable legacy, taking bold steps to diversify in the changing landscape of film and cinema.

The Wallis legacy transcends business; it is a testament to vision, perseverance and a desire to create spaces where people come together. Every detail of the recent restoration at the Piccadilly moves people through well designed, sensitive and elegantly restored areas of the cinema. From the terrazzo floors and the recently discovered terrazzo on the lower walls of the staircase to the painstakingly restored original mural, the curated fabrics, furniture and the timeless art deco inspired bar all come together to make a visit to the Piccadilly an experience.

The Wallis family's enduring vision is that cinema is more than entertainment; the Piccadilly is a place of beauty and an opportunity to foster connection within the local community. An integral part of the family's vision is the expansion of Mount Barker's Auchendarroch House, built in the 1860s and purchased by the Wallis family in 1999. Through thoughtful restoration and innovation, the family is transforming the property again so that it celebrates both heritage and hospitality, creating a thriving community hub, including a 100-room hotel scheduled to open in 2028.

South Australians are set to benefit as we see Wallis Entertainment flourish under the stewardship of Michelle, daughter Deanna, and the team of dedicated staff, many of whom have worked for the family for decades.