The Friends of the Liberty are bringing back the beautiful maple timber that originally furnished the Liberty Theatre in 1939.

On opening night in December 1939, Yass residents were greeted at the Liberty Theatre by the sight of four double-doors made of bleached polished maple wood, welcoming them to their new cinema. Now the Friends of the Liberty are now bringing back that beautiful timber.

Maple was everywhere in the Liberty, it was the timber of choice! And some of it remains today, if you look closely enough.

Over the years as tastes changed the maple bannisters have been painted but the timber beneath has remained, waiting to be revealed.

Following an eagle-eyed discovery, at the start of this year volunteer Friends of the Liberty restored two maple veneer doors from the cinema’s mezzanine foyer.

Volunteers removed layers of paint and finish from the doors. Surfaces were sanded, veneer fixed and holes patched with wood filler. Then the wood was sealed with a clear finish to display the honey coloured timber.

The doors have now been reinstalled in their original positions. Original hardware has been cleaned, polished and reattached with modern features sensitively added to improve accessibility.

While this was a small project careful changes like this help to reveal the Liberty’s original form and repairs ensure these original doors remain part of the building’s fabric for years to come.

All restoration efforts are made possible through the generosity of donors. If you’d like to support this important work to conserve the fabric of our town, please give now.