Melbourne’s Palace Theatre Loses Final Battle To Stave Off Demolition

VCAT today rejected final pleas from heritage preservationists and the live music industry. The theatre is now likely set to be knocked down so a 12-storey boutique hotel can be built in its place.

Chinese developers Jinshan Investments were granted the go-ahead to knock the building down, with VCAT ruling that only a portion of the building’s facade would be protected.

The fight to save the building, which closed its doors for the final time well over 12 months ago, has been a bitter and torrid affair. Allegations were made that the property’s new owners and developers sent in union-backed workers to tear out fixtures of the historic building shortly after it they were deemed to have historical heritage significance.

The tribunal’s ruling stated that retaining a mere portion of the facade of the building above ground level, and nothing of the building’s inner theatre, represented “an acceptable response to the heritage values of the precinct.”

The immediate reaction to the ruling, unsurprisingly, has been one of utter disgust.

@aishamae devastating. @rwynnemp I’m really disappointed you won’t intervene. We cannot lose the beautiful Palace theatre @Eddieperfect

— Ellen Sandell (@ellensandell) April 22, 2016

@ellensandell @aishamae @rwynnemp This is a disgraceful blow for Melbourne’s cultural landscape. Greedy, gross and backwards.

— Eddie Perfect (@Eddieperfect) April 22, 2016

More devastating music news today: VCAT ruling will allow the demolition of the Palace Theatre, apart from 1st floor facade. More to come.

— Felicity Watson (@felixexplody) April 22, 2016

They’re knocking down the Palace Theatre.
Built in 1912.https://t.co/5A8Ww163LC

The City continues to destroy its heritage

— Rhett Bartlett (@rhettrospective) April 22, 2016

Last, last, last minute action is being taken in an attempt to lobby the Melbourne City Council into continuing the fight to save the building, with lobby group Save the Palace announcing a snap gathering at the now boarded-over door of the Bourke Street building this afternoon in response to the ruling.

Knocking down a theatre of significance for another bloody hotel full of rich dicks. Oy vey.

In the immortal words of V Spy V Spy, “Don’t tear it down. There’s life in it yet.“