Closure of Melbourne's Palace Theatre confirmed

Melbourne’s historic Palace Theatre will be closing down at the end of May to make way for a luxury 5-star hotel and apartment complex.

The venue, which promotes itself as "Australia's premier live music, entertainment and function venue located in the heart of Melbourne's business and tourism district" was sold in 2012 to Chinese property investment firm Jinshan Investments.

Opened in 1860, the venue has gone through a number of name changes during its life, operating as a live music venue since 1987. Since then it has played host to internationally heralded acts across a variety of music genres including the Queens of The Stone Age, The Black Keys, The Arctic Monkeys, Meshuggah, Lupe Fiasco, The Prodigy, Hilltop Hoods, Parkway Drive, NOFX, Sia, and the John Butler Trio.

The 2,000-capacity three-storey venue had been partially protected as a Melbourne Heritage-listed site, however the Victorian Government has permitted the developer to demolish the entire complex.

Announcing the closure, a statement from the Palace Theatre Owners read “i is with deep regret that we ... must inform the Australian and international music industry, and the general public, that effective from the 31st May 2014, our business will cease to operate.

“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.

“Palace Theatre management had requested assistance from both state and local government to seek alternative locations to ensure the ongoing success of the Victoria’s thriving live music industry and to continue to provide live music. Regretfully, to date, this avenue of relocating the operations of the Palace Theatre has been unsuccessful.

“The Palace Theatre team is extremely proud to have created a world class and much sought after venue over the past seven 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 over the last seven years.

“Effective from the 31st May 2014 this building and its previous incarnations, Metro Nightclub, Metro Theatre, St James Theatre, Apollo Theatre and Brennan’s Amphitheatre which started trading in 1860 will cease trading to make way for a proposed apartment and hotel development.

“We would like to thank our loyal staff, promoters, music lovers and the music industry at large for all your support over a long period for enabling this magnificent venue to have lived.”

Prior to its final closure on 31st May, the venue will host a three-night stand from Australian dance boys RÜFÜS.

Management will not be looking to move to a new location to continue operations spelling what appears to be the end for one of the country's longest-running live music establishments. 

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