The Palais Theatre is at ‘Imminent Risk of Closure’

Yes, you read that right. Concerns for the Palais, not the Palace Theatre, have been raised this week as Port Phillip Council have desperately advocated the need for renovation at the iconic St Kilda venue. Circulating a pretty foreboding brochure, the council have started lobbying the state government to fund a $15 million short-term renovation with a commitment to another $25 million down the track. "If we don't act now, the Palais faces imminent closure," the brochure reads.

For many of us this news may come as a monumental shock. After all, the Palais added an exciting new show to their program just this morning. Bob freakin' Dylan played there last week! How much damage could the mild-mannered Tambourine Man possibly have done? Nonetheless, the theatre is understandably ageing. Built in 1927, the colossal beachfront venue was one of the largest and most regal of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Now, its most recent condition assessment reports a damaged exterior, a lack of support to the interior dome, and outdated electrical infrastructure. Concrete is literally crumbling off the walls to the footpath below.

Port Phillip Council have erected a scaffolding around the sides of the building and boarded up old windows for sake of pedestrian safety, but such efforts understandably fall short of their $35 million plan. Unfortunately, chances are it'll be like that for a while. Initial reaction to the request for funding has been negative. "State governments simply do not take responsibility for heritage theatres," said former mayor Dick Gross to The Age. "There is an infrastructure crisis in schools and hospitals, and for them to expect the begging bowl to work is a complete misunderstanding of state politics in an election year."

Obviously we've only heard the start of this debate and the campaign could pick up a lot of steam as the November election grows closer. The whole thing is made further complicated by the fact that Port Philip Council rejected a development scheme in 2009 that would have seen the Palais gain $20 million for restoration purposes.

Regardless, this news is another blow for Melbourne music lovers. We're still licking our wounds from the fight for the Palace, and only yesterday had to suffer the news of Bennetts Lane Jazz Club closing its doors. Are we up for another fight? Are we willing to front millions of tax dollars for it? Why are all our venues so doomed these days?

Via The Age.