Demolition of one of Melbourne's best-loved music venues, The Palace Theatre on Bourke Street, began this week, ending a seven-year public battle to save the venue.
The 108-year old theatre, venue of The Metro nightclub for over 20 years from 1987 as well as a live music hall, played host to artists including James Brown, The Prodigy, Slash, Jane's Addiction, Arctic Monkeys and Queens of the Stone Age until its doors shut in 2014.
Demolition of the Palace Theatre in Melbourne commenced this week. Credit: Constantine Frantzeskos
With the site to be converted into a Marriott hotel after years of conjecture, councillors and music industry figures have lamented the demolition as an indictment on Victoria's heritage laws, which they say fail to properly recognise the cultural value of the state's venues.
The Palace was sold in 2012 to Chinese developer Jinshan Investment Group for $11.2 million.
Melbourne City Council approved plans to build a hotel in 2013, which objectors unsuccessfully opposed in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2016, however the site was dormant until the roof was removed in the past fortnight.
Known for its marble staircase and sweeping viewing balconies, photos emerged this week of excavator trucks in the venue, the stage area in rubble and a hole in the roof where a chandelier once hung.
The Metro Nightclub at midnight in January 1992.Credit: Sandy Scheltema
Melbourne City councillor Rohan Leppert, who leads the council's heritage division, said the 3000-capacity Palace was not previously granted heritage status because renovations had created a "mish-mash of architectural eras".
"Even though the demolition that's happening inside the theatre is perfectly legal, it's still morally outrageous," Cr Leppert said.
"Our heritage regime still rewards architectural purity above everything else, but the thing that makes The Palace special is the social history of the place, which is so extraordinary. I hope we are never in a situation like this again."
The Metro nightclub in its heyday.Credit: Rodger Cummins
Music Victoria chief executive Patrick Donovan said The Palace closure left a "massive gap" in Melbourne for a medium-sized venue with a late-night licence.
"It was an absolutely pivotal venue in the Melbourne music scene," he said.
"It was a popular weekly alternative music nightclub called Goo for university students, then they had live music shows up to five days a week. I really do believe our heritage laws need a good look at."
Heavy heart: You Am I's Tim Rogers performs at The Metro in 1996.Credit: Wayne Taylor
The Palace was also used as a cinema, Pentecostal church venue and theatre in its 108-year history. It's understood the developers will be required to retain its historic facade.
The Palace Theatre is being demolished.Credit: Constantine Frantzeskos
Mr Donovan said cities such as Vancouver and Toronto in Canada recognised cultural value more than Victoria and said The Palace should be used as a cautionary tale to protect venues such as St Kilda's The Esplanade and Festival Hall, which survived an initial push for demolition in 2018.
"We don't need any more apartments in this city, but we do need venues like the Espy and the Palace."
Rebecca Leslie, spokeswoman for the Save the Palace campaign that has fought the development since 2013, said the demolition's timing had taken the group by surprise.
"The experience of attending a live band there was incredible. No matter where you stood, you got the most incredible view, with this beautiful 100-year-old building, with all the pictures and fittings around it still intact."