A slice of cinematic history has been given a new lease on life after a group of film enthusiasts rescued a classic film projector from impending destruction. Originally destined for landfill during a recent council clean-up campaign, the heavy, gleaming relic was spotted poking from a pile of unwanted electronics. “It just seemed wrong to let such an iconic piece of film heritage go to waste,” said Mark Henley, one of the project’s founders.
The team of rescuers, calling themselves the ‘Retro Reel Collective’, comprises volunteers with backgrounds in arts, engineering, and event management. United by a love for analogue film, they pooled together both expertise and personal savings to transport and restore the projector. The ambitious restoration involved tracking down rare replacement parts—no easy feat given the age of the machine—and enlisting the help of a retired technician, Dave Mulligan, whose experience with 35mm equipment dates back to the 1970s.
Restoration work was painstaking as the projector, an early-1960s model, had not seen use for decades. Gears were meticulously cleaned and lubricated, cracked belts replaced, and a new light source retrofitted to meet modern safety requirements. "Every piece told its own story," Mulligan explained, "It was about preserving more than just a machine—it was about saving an era of collective memory." The process took nearly six months.
With the projector now fully operational, the Retro Reel Collective has established a weekly indie cinema night, drawing both seasoned cineastes and younger moviegoers curious about the tactile charm of celluloid film. The pop-up screenings, hosted in a community hall fitted for the purpose, have become an anticipated staple in the social calendar, offering cult classics and obscure gems from the golden age of cinema. Patrons are treated to the authentic whir and occasional flicker of old-school projection—an experience that streaming simply cannot replicate.
Attendance has grown steadily, with the Collective reporting sold-out sessions within weeks of launch. "There’s something inherently communal about watching film on a projector," noted co-founder Julia Tran. "You share in the crackle of the soundtrack and those brief, beautiful imperfections that digital just erases." Many attendees report that the screenings evoke fond memories of family outings or bring a sense of discovery that’s often lost in digital formats.
Alongside the weekly showings, the group has begun collaborating with local schools and film clubs, offering educational tours and workshops about the mechanics and history of film projection. These hands-on sessions aim to foster appreciation for the craftsmanship behind cinema, and provide students with an understanding of the rich, tactile tradition of film-making. “Learning how movies were shown before everything went digital is eye-opening for many,” said school teacher Anita Rao.
The revived projector has also inspired a creative surge among local indie filmmakers, who have expressed interest in screening their short films in this vintage format. The Collective is now planning quarterly events dedicated to new Australian voices, aiming to bridge the past and present by showcasing emerging talent alongside time-honoured classics. This initiative has been welcomed by the local arts council, which sees it as an essential boost for independent film culture.
Looking ahead, the Retro Reel Collective intends to expand its reach. Plans are in motion to secure permanent premises, explore grants for historical preservation, and possibly acquire additional projection equipment. Their ultimate goal is to establish a community-run microcinema that celebrates the rich heritage and future of film. "We’ve proven that there’s a real hunger for authentic, shared movie experiences," said Henley, "and that the magic of film deserves to be kept alive for future generations."