From holiday home hunt to cinema revival: How a Melbourne family saved Yamba’s beloved movie theatre

They fell in love with the small Northern Rivers town of Yamba, which Rebecca describes as “an incredibly calm, quiet regional beach town” that combines coastal vibes with country farming.

“It’s at the head of the Clarence River and it’s got a very strong fishing history,” she says. “They just really value the environment, local produce and the community.”

Yamba reminded the couple of their respective childhoods on the Victorian coast, and they knew the warmer climate would encourage their kids to get off their devices and go outside.

They bought an apartment in the town and wound up renovating it with a local builder via video chat from Melbourne.

“It was just ideal for the kids: no traffic, because everything’s within walking distance,” Rebecca says. “The kids are able to ride bikes and scooters safely.”

Then there are the beaches, several of which are perfect for young children, and the surf school that operates early every morning. One of the family’s most regular haunts, however, was the cinema.

“Being northern NSW, sometimes it can have that tropical downpour,” Rebecca says. “If it was raining, it would be the perfect little escape for our kids, and then if it was stiflingly hot and you’ve had enough of a beach day, again it was the go-to.”

The Yamba cinema was built by Merv and Elaine Cousemacker and opened in 1980. Since 2005, it had been operated by their daughter, Debbie McCredie.

It was a single-screen, 200-seat theatre that sold choc-tops and lolly bags put together by mostly retired volunteers. As well as screening movies for locals and holidaymakers, it hosted charity events and school programs.

The business took a hit during the COVID-19 lockdowns, followed by the Hollywood writers’ strike, but it was Cyclone Alfred in March 2025 that finally brought the cinema to its knees. The roof was damaged, which eventually led to mould issues the owners couldn’t afford to repair, leaving them with no choice but to sell.

“We were devastated to see it gone,” says Rebecca, who has a background in film and TV production. “It felt like the town had really lost something.”

“I tapped my husband on the shoulder and said, ‘If we’re in a position to [buy] it, it would be a wonderful experience and journey to work with this family in getting it reopened.’”

The Bulls met the owners and explained that they wanted to buy the cinema and bring it back to life.

“It sounded a bit woo-woo having me approach them saying, ‘I just love film and I love this cinema and we love Yamba. Trust us,’” Rebecca says. “So it took a lot of risk and faith on both parts.”

The Bulls relocated to Yamba full-time and enrolled the kids in the local primary school so they could dedicate five months to working on the cinema.

While Rebecca’s creative vision was complemented by Tom’s expertise in running the Melbourne commercial construction company Texco.

Rebecca describes the process as “like a cinema version of The Block” and says that for the last eight weeks, they “really went hell for leather”.

The most astounding thing, she says, was the commitment of the local trades.

“They chipped in around the clock and on weekends,” Rebecca says. “The goal was [to have it open in] early December, and we managed to get there as a collective.

“Even the local painter, Luke, worked with his dad at night and on weekends to make sure that it was done. Gannstruct, the builder, and his wife were in there cleaning with us, on our hands and knees, in the home stretch in the last week.”

The cinema was finished in time for Debbie McCredie, who still owns and operates the business, to host the local schools’ annual end-of-year celebrations and make the most of summer ticket sales.

After a brief closure in March to finish stage two of the project, which included getting the backyard ready for outdoor screenings and functions, Yamba Cinema is now fully operational.

McCredie and the Bulls recently went to a cinema convention, where the news was that the independent cinema industry is bouncing back after a five-year downturn.

Rebecca is quick to point out that she and Tom are just one part of the cinema’s story, and that “this whole inspired idea came from watching what people within that community offered and did for the community”, including organisations like the local golf club, surf school and council.

“It’s the personalities and the people that really care about contribution. And effort,” she says. “It translates into such a flourishing of connection and opportunity for kids and adults alike.