Demolition of the Palace Theatre in Melbourne commenced this week. Credit:Constantine Frantzeskos
With the site to be converted into a Marriott hotel after years of conjecture,councillors and music industry figures have lamented the demolition as an indictment on Victoria's heritage laws,which they say fail to properly recognise the cultural value of the state's venues.
The Palace was sold in 2012 to Chinese developer Jinshan Investment Group for $11.2 million.
Melbourne City Council approved plans to build a hotel in 2013,which objectors unsuccessfully opposed in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2016,however the site was dormant until the roof was removed in the past fortnight.
Known for its marble staircase and sweeping viewing balconies,photos emerged this week of excavator trucks in the venue,the stage area in rubble and a hole in the roof where a chandelier once hung.
The Metro Nightclub at midnight in January 1992.Credit:Sandy Scheltema
Melbourne City councillor Rohan Leppert,who leads the council's heritage division,said the 3000-capacity Palace was not previously granted heritage status because renovations had created a"mish-mash of architectural eras".
"Even though the demolition that's happening inside the theatre is perfectly legal,it's still morally outrageous,"Cr Leppert said.