Palace Theatre Developers Invite Musicians To Stay In New Hotel

The decision over whether Melbourne's iconic Palace Theatre will be developed into a hotel complex has been deferred to July following a council meeting this week where the developers invited musicians to stay in the new complex.

With the venue now closed as a live music space all attention is now on whether a development application to turn to space into Australia's first W Hotel will be approved. With a report to the planning committee advising a rejection of the proposal, at Tuesday's Future Melbourne Committee meeting council opted to defer until Tuesday 1 July.

Amongst the stakeholders and Save The Palace Theatre representatives that spoke at the meeting was musician Ezekial Ox, who said, “It is up to the council in this case to pick up where the people left off… we are talking about democracy in action here. We are talking about a community that has roundly rejected this venue being lost to live music – that is a fact.

“The majority are speaking and they are speaking loudly, they need to be heard.”

The Starwood Hotel group's Regional Victoria President Sean Hunt told the meeting,“The DNA of the W Hotel brand is routed in music, culture, fashion and high-end design, and that's what this location presents.”

Danielle Tonetto, Starwood Regional Director Sales & Marketing added, “This location on Bourke Street fits perfectly with the 'W' DNA and we would invite the musicians from the Palace Theatre into the W happenings, ensuring that we retains the historic and social elements that currently coexist on Bourke St.

The Save The Palace Theatre group will continue their weekly protests each Friday at 5pm outside the venue.