Iconic Melbourne Venue Palais Theatre Threatened With Closure

According to a report in The Age today, Melbourne's much beloved live venue Palais Theatre has been threatened with closure.

The iconic St Kilda venue stands surrounded in scaffolding today as a brochure circulates amongst state MPs claiming the venue requires a $15 million injection of funds to "keep the building open in the short term". It is estimated that another $25 million is required to keep it functioning in the "long term".

"If we don't act now, the Palais faces imminent closure."

The brochure has been distributed by Port Phillip Council, whose mayor, Amanda Stevens, claims that "significant building issues" have been identified as needing "immediate attention".

According to the story, the brochure includes the claim: "If we don't act now, the Palais faces imminent closure."

The historic beachside site has been managed by the council since its last lease expired in 2006. It is located next to land once home to another popular band venue The Palace — now a carpark.

The area has long been the site of contentious debate over development. In recent years the Palais was earmarked for $20 million worth of restoration but only as a part of a plan to develop a shopping and entertainment perecinct next to it. The precinct development was unpopular with locals and ditched along with plans to fix up the Palais.

Former Port Phillip Mayor Dick Gross has told The Age that he believes the brochure is a stunt to make the council "look like it's taking action".

The Minister For Environment And Climate Change Ryan Smith, perhaps sensing the public outcry that the news of the possible closure of the Palais will stir up, called for calm: "This is the right process to guarantee a future for the Palais and cooler heads must prevail."

Work needed to save the venue includes repairing the external structure, replacing all windows and work to support the interior dome. The venue has been ruled safe to visit in the meantime.

Bob Dylan performed at the Palais earlier this week and upcoming gigs include shows by Boy & Bear, Angus & Julia Stone, Rodriguez and Chelsea Handler.