YARRAVILLE’S Sun Theatre has always been a local icon.

Now, the little cinema is set to record itself in the annals of Australian history as well, when it becomes the country’s first cinema to completely convert to digital projection.

Established in 1938, the Ballarat St cinema began as a single screen theatre.

It served as a Greek cinema in the ’60s, before closing down the following decade.

For 20 years the building lay in a decrepit state, before being restored to its original glory and reopened for business in the mid-’90s. It now boasts six boutique cinemas with original art deco features.

Sun manager Michael Smith said he was really excited as they had been planning the digital conversion since late last year.

“Even though we’re one of the older cinemas in Melbourne, we love the idea of having the best picture and sound,” said Mr Smith.

He said there’s a warmth and romance about film, but the new digital equipment is so well developed that the pictures are better.

“The best thing is, it will look as good six weeks after the film opens, as on the first day it’s released,” he said.

“There’ll be no scratching on the prints that we’ve had in the past.”

With a price tag of around half a million dollars, the new equipment is an expensive investment.