Lunar Drive-in cinema in Dandenong, Melbourne is officially closing with traditions tearing down the movie screen

An iconic drive-in cinema – once crowned the largest in Australia – has been demolished after nearly seven decades.

Spectators this week captured footage of the moment when an excavator knocked down the large cinema screen of the Lunar Drive-in, in south-east Melbourne.

The video, which was posted to Reddit with the caption “End of an Era,” was met with an outpouring of disappointment online from former patrons of the Dandenong cinema.

Earlier this year, the cinema revealed it would close for decades due to cost-of-living pressures.

The cinema’s last show aired on July 9.

Traditions tore down one of the Lunar Drive-in movie theater’s screens after it closed last month

The owners of Lunar Drive-In announced the closure in May. Image: Delivered

“We would like to thank all our loyal customers, our wonderful staff, past and present, and all our supplier friends in the industry for a fantastic 21 years,” the company said.

‘For six weeks we will be showing the latest blockbuster films together with some drive-in classics. We hope to see many of you before we close.

“Thank you for being a supporter of Lunar Drive-in, Dandenong.”

Reportedly, before closing time, the cinema was still welcoming 400,000 guests a year

Reportedly, before closing time, the cinema was still welcoming 400,000 guests a year.

It opened in May 1956.

Owner David Kilderry said earlier that the costs of keeping the doors open had become too high.

“Fifteen acres of land… that’s hard to justify when there’s no one there during the day,” he told Seven News.

And we only work a few hours a night.

“We are especially saddened for our customers and staff, but also for some of our long-term suppliers.”

The cinema will show the last film on July 9. Image: Included

One of the rising costs was the land tax, which had reportedly ballooned to as much as $1,000 a day, and was expected to double within a year.

The closure of the iconic date-night spot was lamented online by many locals and former customers, some of whom were unaware it had closed altogether.

“Ah man this makes me sad,” one user wrote on Reddit.

“The hours I spent staring at that screen.”

One of the last films shown was classic American Graffiti. Image: Delivered

Another wrote: ‘So sad, gutted we haven’t gone to a movie in the past few weeks.

‘That’s what you get when the municipality charges ridiculous rates.’

One user wrote, “It still hurts to see it.”

Others shared memories of the cinema’s many years of operation.

“First drive thru when I got my driver’s license,” one user wrote.

“I saw Mad Max on the big screen – (it) was great.”

The cinema has been showing a series of recent blockbusters and classic films in recent weeks.

Among the iconic films that aired in recent days were American Graffiti and Jurassic Park.