The Australian Film Walk of Fame is a collection of plaques on the footpath outside the Ritz Cinema in the suburb of Randwick, Sydney, Australia. Formed in 2008 at the Ritz Cinema, the initiative was established to honour Australian actors and actresses for their contributions to Australian cinema.

History

The Australian Film Walk of Fame was initially established in 2008 by Randwick City Council and the Australian Film Festival (organized by Barry Watterson) at the Randwick Ritz under the title of the 'Walk of Fame'. Recipients inducted into the Walk of Fame from 2008 to 2009 include

Michael Caton Michael Caton (born 21 July 1943) is an Australian television, film and stage actor, comedian and television host, best known for playing Uncle Harry in the Australian television series ''The Sullivans'', Darryl Kerrigan in 1997's low-budget hi ...

Roy Billing Roy Harwood Billing (born 1947) is a New Zealand television actor, now based on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. He was brought up in Ruawai, Northland, New Zealand. Billing spent almost three decades living and working in Australia. He became wid ...

and

Charles Tingwell Charles William Tingwell Member of the Order of Australia, AM (3 January 1923 – 15 May 2009), known professionally as Bud Tingwell or Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, was an Australian film, television, theatre and radio actor. One of the veterans of ...

. In conjunction with the inaugural

Australian Film Festival The Australian Film Festival is an annual film festival held in the Australian city of Sydney. The festival showcases the films of Australian talent working in a variety of mediums, including; feature films, short films, television and online we ...

, which premiered on 24 February 2010 at Randwick Ritz cinema, the Randwick Ritz's Walk of Fame was officially renamed the Australian Film Walk of Fame. The Australian Film Walk of Fame now initiates new members annually at the conclusion of the

, in partnership with Randwick Council, the Ritz Cinema and The Spot Chamber of Commerce.

2010: 7 March

On 7 March 2010, the Australian Film Festival concluded with The Spot Food and Film Festival at Randwick and the induction of

Steve Bisley Steve Bisley (born 26 December 1951) is an Australian writer, film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in the films ''Mad Max'' and ''The Great Gatsby''. On TV, some of his better-known roles include Detective Sergeant Jack Chr ...

and

Claudia Karvan Claudia Karvan (born 19 May 1972) is an Australian actress, producer and scriptwriter. As a child actor, she first appeared in the film, '' Molly'' (1983) and followed with an adolescent role in ''High Tide'' (1987). She portrayed a teacher in ...

to the Australian Film Walk of Fame.

2011: 13 March

In 2011,

Gary Sweet Gary Sweet (born 22 May 1957) is an Australian film and television actor known for his roles in '' Alexandra's Project'' (as Steve), ''Police Rescue'' (as Sergeant "Mickey" McClintock), ''Cody'' (as Cody), '' Big Sky'' (as Chris Manning), ''Bod ...

and

Jack Thompson Jack Thompson may refer to: Sports *Jack Thompson (footballer, born 1892) (1892–1969), English footballer who played for Sheffield United and Bristol City *Jack Thompson (1920s footballer), English footballer who played for Aston Villa and Bright ...

were both initiated to the Australian Film Walk of Fame.

2022: 28 April

The Australian Film Walk of Fame was revived after a decade with a new plaque unveiled to honour actor, writer and director Leah Purcell AM at the gala screening of ''The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson'' at Randwick Ritz Cinemas.

Controversy

The title of the Australian Film Walk of Fame has been contested by Alan Black, the chairman of the Australian Walk of Fame in

Tweed Heads Tweed Heads is a town in New South Wales. It is located on the Tweed River in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia, in Tweed Shire, next to the border with Queensland and adjacent to its "twin town" of Coolangatta, which is a suburb of the ...

. Black claims that the Australian Film Walk of Fame has capitalised on his Australian Walk of Fame, which includes multiple actors, sporting personalities and animals. In response to Black's criticism, Randwick Council issued a statement in defense of Watterson's Australian Film Walk of Fame, citing the fact that "There are many different 'walks of fame' already in existence, including the Surfing Walk of Fame at Maroubra Beach. The Australian Film Walk of Fame at Randwick specifically recognises home-grown acting talent and people who have made significant contributions to the Australian film industry." Randwick Council and Barry Watterson jointly own the trademark rights to the Australian Film Walk of Fame plaque design.

History

2010: 7 March

2011: 13 March

2022: 28 April

Controversy

Members of the Australian Film Walk of Fame

References

External links