VCAT seals fate of Melbourne’s iconic Palace Theatre

MELBOURNE’S century-old Palace Theatre will be demolished, after a council appeal to save the building was quashed by Victoria’s planning tribunal.

Reg Livermore outside Melbourne's Palace theatre where he performed in Hair 50 years ago..

MELBOURNE’S century-old Palace Theatre will be demolished, after a council appeal to save the building was quashed by Victoria’s planning tribunal.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal rejected heartfelt appeals from lovers of the entertainment and music precinct.

The theatre building will be replaced by a 12-storey hotel development, comprising 143 hotel rooms, a basement carpark and a “signature” bar and restaurant.

The development will, however, retain a section of the former Metro Nightclub facade facing Bourke St.

Last night, the Save the Palace group gathered outside Melbourne Town Hall.

“We need to send a message to the councillors before they go away for the long weekend,” a post on their Facebook page said.

“They must take immediate action today to continue this fight.

“If we miss them, we can bet the Palace won’t be there come Monday when they return to office.”

The National Trust of Australia and Melbourne Heritage Action had joined the council in opposing the development.

The proposal also attracted more than 1000 objections, and was the target of a Facebook page with more than 37,000 likes; 44,000 signed an online petition against it.

Jinshan Investment Group bought the building four years ago but failed in a bid to put a 30-level apartment tower on the site.

The City of Melbourne argued the theatre was “significant socially and historically” and “at the very least, the front of the building should be retained”.

A City of Melbourne spokesman said the council was aware of the verdict.

“We have just received the decision and will consider it in the coming days,” the spokesman said.

Celebrity witnesses at the verdict included Ian “Molly” Meldrum, Kate Ceberano, Mark Seymour, Reg Livermore and Tim Rogers.

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