In a statement just released by the venue’s operators, “Numerous requests to the landlord to extend our lease have been rejected. The landlord has made this decision while still awaiting approval of planning and building permits which to date, have been rejected by both the State Government and Melbourne City Council.”
A high profile campaign has been on-going since last year to save the 1912 three-storey building. A crucial meeting is scheduled for next month regarding its heritage listing. Melbourne’s live music community has been lobbying to save the music venue which has 450,000 patrons come through each year.
At this point, it is clear that the State Government has to step in and mandatorily buy the building from Jinshan, which had purchased it for $13 million in mid-2012. It can then reinstate the venue’s operators to continue running it.
The Palace Theatre management in its statement today said it had earlier asked for help from the State Government and local government authorities to help it shift from the Bourke Street building to an alternate venue. But this financial aid was not forthcoming. It added, “The Palace Theatre team is extremely proud to have created a world-class and much sort after venue over the past eight years and to have been a part of its 150 year history. This venue has hosted many hundreds bands which have entertained over two million patrons during these eight years.”
The building’s history includes hosting Metro Nightclub, Metro Theatre, St James Theatre, Apollo Theatre and Brennan’s Amphitheatre which started trading in 1860. The building burned to the ground in 1912 and was rebuilt.
