Save The Palace Protest Turns Violent In Melbourne

A protest outside the controversial Melbourne venue The Palace Theatre erupted into violence around 6.30pm tonight.

Demonstrators had gathered to protest the news that demolition had begun at the site this week — before the City Of Melbourne council had ruled on its heritage value.

The demonstration had begun peacefully as twenty or so people gathered with 'Save The Palace Theatre' signs as a speaker led them in chants against the demolition believed to have started inside the venue earlier this week.

Messages were scrawled in chalk on the footpath declaring "It is not over!" and "Shame Doyle Shame" (a reference to Melbourne's Lord Mayor Robert Doyle) and a PA blasted Twisted Sister's "We're not gonna take it" refrain.

Passing peak-hour motorists were encouraged to honk in support — the honking was continuous.

But as the speaker began to call on the developers to be fined an agitated passer-by tried to grab the microphone.

He shouted out in support of the developers, claiming it was an issue of "public housing".

Drowned out by demonstrators' chants, the man grabbed the speaker by the shirt and a scuffle broke out. As people tried to pull the interloper off the speaker, he began swinging punches.

Just as the situation was calmed by some 'Save The Palace' protestors, three more men joined the initial attacker and a brawl broke out. 

Protesters were knocked to the ground, punched, kicked and bitten. The fight spilled out onto the road before police arrived.

The instigator of the fight was taken away hand-cuffed but police are calling on witnesses as two of the other men involved in the fight had slipped away before police could talk to them.

When the demonstration continued, the speaker (now with a ripped t-shirt) announced that council were meeting about the issue of the demolition tonight.