Independent Report Says Palace Theatre Not Worth Saving

An independent report has found that iconic Melbourne venue the Palace Theatre is no longer worth saving, due to the damage that has been done to the building over the past few months.

As reported by Fairfax, independent heritage consultant Graeme Butler has reversed his initial recommendation that the venue should be saved, after surveying the area in the wake of the demolition that had begun on the site.

Butler said," Inspection of the theatre December 2014 has revealed that most of the original plaster ornamentation, glazed stair tiling and period joinery inspected in October have been removed from the building.

"These sweeping internal changes have necessitated this review of the original findings."

The findings were detailed in a report published by the Melbourne City Council this morning, with Greens councillor Rohan Leppert telling Fairfax the news was "devastating."

Demolition began on the building late last month, with the City Of Melbourne yet to rule on its heritage value. Protests outside the venue turned violent hours after the news broke.

UPDATED [3:30PM]: Melbourne Heritage Action president Tristan Davies has released a statement on today's news, saying there is still reason to protect and restore the Palace, or at least the interior or the venue.

"We are extremely disappointed that with this decision, Jinshan Investments will be effectively ‘rewarded’ for their vandalism of a well known historic building while it was being assessed for heritage listing”

"We cannot understand why the consultant’s report now recommends that none of the interior is worth protecting. This change of heart is not explained.

"Most of the decoration has been stripped, but some remains, and some has been saved, and it could be restored.

"Whats actually there is still an historic purpose built theatre, with balconies and lobbies and stage, all dating from 1916.

"As the heritage consultant’s report clearly states, the Palace has a high historic and social significance for all the events that have taken place there over 100 years.

"Even without the decoration, it is still clearly an historic purpose-built live theatre, where all those activities took place. It is also the only theatre not already heritage listed in Victoria.

"We firmly believe the interior of the Palace should still be heritage listed.

Davies also said the Palace saga is proof that those who care for the city's heritage "are ignored and let down by the system."

"We also call upon the Lord Mayor to make a stand for heritage, and to at least say that what Jinshan did was morally wrong, even if it was within the law."