1 history
1.1 excelsior hotel
1.2 theatre
1.3 cinema
1.4 theatre
1.5 church
1.6 night club
1.7 music venue
1.8 proposed demolition
history
the palace has rich history, , building , site has been utilised in many different carnations on decades. although lack of continuity regards structure , decor contributed lack of heritage listing, superabundance of contribution melburnian society makes worthy listing.
excelsior hotel
a view of excelsior hotel on bourke street in 1861
the plot of land on 20-30 bourke street occupied late 1850s excelsior hotel. association between hotels , theatres @ time close, , hotel incorporated hall (known queen’s hall) used vaudeville performances , other entertainment including boxing , wrestling. hotel later became known stutt s hotel circa 1875, , hotel douglas in 1900. last listing hotel douglas in sands directory in 1911, after hotel burned ground. land sold ₤32,000.
theatre
brennan s amphitheatre in 1912
in 1911 queensland based architects eaton & bates, in association melbourne architect nahum barnet, commissioned design new theatre site. design had seating on 3 levels , large proscenium curtains of gold. on first floor there bedrooms, , new building incorporated pastoral hotel. palace theatre opened in april 1912.
in 1916 sydney architect henry e white designed alterations, involved complete refitting of auditorium , lobby addition of ornate plaster decoration in louis seize style. between 1919 , c1922 front room on upper level let use studio prominent artists arthur streeton , max meldrum.
in 1923 auditorium extensively remodelled, though retaining louis seize style, overlaid adamesque decoration, , re-opened new palace.
cinema
in 1934 further alterations carried out , on known apollo theatre. life of apollo short lived, 6 years later in 1940 building renamed st james . in 1951 became mgm cinema , renamed st james theatre & metro , featuring films exclusively owners. facade substantially remodelled in art deco style designed h vivian taylor, design still remains today. internally proscenium replaced , side boxes , balcony ends removed allow installation of cinemascope screen. last film shown @ mgm cinema kelly s heroes, starring clint eastwood in october 1970. after sold.
theatre
the cinema reopened theatre in 1971. featured 39-week season of musical hair 1971-1972. life of theatre short-lived, in 1974 converted cinema , renamed palace theatre first time since 1916.
church
in 1980 cinema sold melbourne revival centre, pentecostal church headquartered in melbourne. became major venue services, involved theatre productions.
night club
the metro nightclub in 2004
the next sale resulted in major refurbishment melbourne architectural firm biltmoderne. in 1987 building transformed metro nightclub. metro described in 2006 having classy, intimate vip lounge in gods bar along funky fish bowl on mezzanine level providing electrifying views of main room below, available partying pleasure.
music venue
the old palace in st kilda, shortly before closure in 2007.
in 2007 metro nightclub sold. new owners, operated former palace, st kilda, lost acrimonious 2 year battle state government on lease of old building , moved business metro. undertook works convert metro live music venue, , changed name palace. old palace in st kilda mysteriously burned down few months later under suspicious circumstances.
over next 7 years became established venue, hosting acts such george clinton, black keys, queens of stone age, arctic monkeys , killers, name few. had capacity of 1850.
proposed demolition
an artist s impression of new site like
in late 2012 sold chinese developer jinshan investment group $11.2 million. new owners revealed plans major 30-storey w hotel development replacing theatre in mid 2013, worth $180 million. these plans generated considerable opposition, melbourne s music community. surprise opposition met developers council new plans led original plans downgraded smaller 7-storey hotel. palace closed in april 2014.
the fight save palace went vcat in 2016. however, after many months of deliberation, decision made allow demolition , redevelopment works go ahead. decision passionately appealed unsuccessful. of december 2016, no works have taken place yet.
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