Victorian Budget Allocates $13 Million To Restore Palais Theatre

Today's Victorian State Budget has included the news that the Palais Theatre will be receiving nearly $13 million to aid its restoration between now and 2017, with Labor following through with their pledge last November that they would do just that if they won the State election. 

Though much of the Budget has targeted education and transport, the iconic St Kilda theatre, now exclusively a concert venue, will receive $6.7 million in the 2015/16 financial year and a further $6.7 million in the following financial year.

As Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said previously, "This won’t be a patch-up job. It’s a once-in-a-generation restoration to give the building a new life. We’ll save the Palais."

Having hosted the likes of The Rolling Stones, Tom Jones and The Beach Boys, the venue was also once used as a cinema (under the name Palais Pictures) since its inception in November 1927.

In other wins for the Arts sector, the Victorian State Budget has also allocated funds to renew the Museum Victoria Exhibition, with $18 million due to be completed by 2019.

A further $83.1 million will also head to the State Library of Victoria redevelopment, due to be completed by 2020.