As the Southern Cross Cinema gets ready to celebrate 20 years since its opening the committee and the Young Witness have taken a look back at where it all began.
Hilltops Arts Inc have original photos and copies of The Young Witness that are over two decades old which showcase the beginning of what has become a favourite way for locals to watch movies and be entertained.
Going through the papers there was a timeline printed ahead of the opening which showed the Southern Cross Hall becoming the Cinema was four years in the making.
November 2000 - Kim Johnson and Anthony King met to discuss a cinema and cultural centre for Young.
February 2002 - Grant received from State Ministry of the Arts for $75,000. Work continues on further grant applications.
April 24, 2002 - Federal Government grant for $237,000 is received. Young Shire Council agrees to purchase Southern Cross Hall to be used for a cinema and performing arts centre.
May 13, 2002 - A public meeting is held at the Young S&C Club, over 200 people attend.
July 2002 - First weekend working bee. Over the next three years, hundreds of community minded citizens lend a hand.
November 2002 - Work begins with builder Mal Blair, and a team of Work for the Dole participants.
February 2003 - Second grant from State Ministry of the Arts for $55,000 is received.
August 2003 - ANZ Bank donates $2,000.
November 2003 - Young Shire Council gives $50,000, and a loan of $50,000.
January 2004 - 9m x 3m screen arrives courtesy of Douglas Transport. The screen is valued at $23,000.
February 2004 - Projector arrives, valued at $90,000. Tannoy Sound System supplied and installed by M&Ms Music Studio at a cost of $50,000.
March 13, 2004 - Test screening of 'Spiderman' for Arts Council Members.
March 26, 2004 - Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, is the first film screened to rapturous applause.
November 2004 - Sydney Opera House 'Baby Proms' perform.
January 26, 2005 - Young Arts Council is recognised with a Cultural Award on Australia Day.
July 30, 2005 - The inaugural 'Hilltops Music Festival' is held.
The Young Theatre Company made it to the front page of one of the Young Witness editions back in 2002 with their calls to turn the Hall into what it has now become today.
Bringing back good old days: YOUNG's Southern Cross Hall brings back nostalgic memories of debutante balls and theatre productions for many older present and past residents of the town but unfortunately it is not so clear in the hearts of our younger citizens.
The Young Theatre Company wants to change all that by buying the hall, which has been on the market for some time, and restoring it to its former glory, using it for a theatre, cinema and youth arts centre.
Currently owned by the Catholic Church, the hall has only been used for functions for Hennessy Catholic College in recent years and has been dormant for around 18 months.
While the building is sound, it is in urgent need of renovations, and couldn't be used in its current state.
Unfortunately the project, like most wonderful dreams, needs a decent pile of cash to make it happen.
Anthony King of the Young Theatre Company said there were a number of avenues the organisation will approach for funding to develop the hall into a centre for the arts in Young.
"We will be approaching government for arts grants as well as the Premier's office and we also have the options of the Australia Council, National Trust and even philanthropic trusts.
"We are also very keen to muster support for the project from within the community and especially businesses who would like to assist in some way.
"It is really only at a stage where we are investigating the viability of the project, a sort of feasibility study, and gauging the interest within the community," he said.
Another member of the Young Theatre Company, Kim Johnson, said the hall would be a home for the theatre company and would help greatly to develop the arts in Young.
"We stage our productions at the Catherine McAuley Centre at the moment, but it is not a home for the theatre company, it is a borrowed venue.
"The Southern Cross Hall is a great location right in the centre of town, people could have dinner, wander up to the hall and see a show, then go out on the town.
"I think a venue such as this would encourage more people to come to the theatre and especially more young people. While the Catherine McAuley Centre is a great venue, it is very difficult to get young people there watching, whereas I think the hall would attract an audience covering a wider cross section of the community.
"We want to take it to the streets as a twofold theatre and cinema, it would be a new angle for the arts in Young," he said.
Parish Priest, Father Warrick Tonkin, said the Theatre Company purchasing the Southern Cross Hall would be in keeping with what it was originally meant for.
"The hall isn't in a fit state at present to hold public functions and is currently surplus to our needs as far as the parish is concerned.
"It would really be a win-win situation if the Theatre Company were to purchase the hall, it could be used for weddings, balls and the like as well as theatre and I think it is a facility the town probably needs," he said.
"This is a project which has been kicked around by the Theatre Company for some years but this is the first time it has been taken as far as actually seeking funding."
Anthony King said he had nothing but support for the project from the arts community in Young and a similar project has also been carried out in Tumut with great success.
Junior sporting opportunities are plentiful in Young but for those with a taste for the arts, there is a far smaller scope to develop the skills of our talented youngsters.
A centre for the arts such as the Southern Cross Hall would go a long way to rectifying that situation. FROM THE YOUNG WITNESS