Our Story

"My love of motion pictures was born in Muro Lucano, Italy, where my father rented the church hall to play movies when I was a small boy. It was then that I was taught a value system: the same one on which I have built Palace Cinemas - one that embraces innovation, inspiration as well as the preservation of family, culture, heritage and leadership." - Antonio Zeccola, Founder and Owner of Palace Cinemas

Antonio Zeccola's involvement in film dates back to the 1960's where his first foray into the motion picture industry was (like his fathers before him) a rented town hall screening films to small but enthusiastic audiences in Noble Park, Victoria. His obvious passion and commitment translated into success very quickly and by the mid to late 1970's Antonio operated a number of suburban cinemas including The Palace Theatre in Bourke Street, from which the group derived its identity as “Palace’’.

The group continued to flourish throughout the 1980's with Palace Home Video and early 1990's with the addition of several locations such as the Dendy Brighton, The Balwyn Cinema, as well as The Verona and Academy Cinemas in Paddington, NSW.  Palace has continued to grow its audience with expansions in Melbourne and Sydney, introductions in Brisbane, Byron Bay, Canberra and Perth, and preservation of heritage art-deco gems, such as The Astor Theatre, Australia's longest-running single-screen venue and similarly the Ballarat Regent. 

Today, Palace Cinemas is made up of 210 screens across 25 locations nationally, with each cinema offering a tailored and unique combination of superb films and events, sophisticated comfort and a chance to escape and indulge. We love the movies, and we want to share that with you.