East End in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

The Palace 1934 - 2007

Part II

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 3, 2026

1. The Palace Part II Marker

Inscription. One of Melbourne's oldest and most "versatile" theatrical houses took on another change of identity and appearance yesterday. The St. James Theatre, at the top of Bourke st. (sic), was reopened as "the new Metro, Bourke st." - the fourth different name by which this house has been known in recent years.'

- The Argus, 18 December 1952

This building was a movie theatre for many decades until 1971, when it was again used for live performance - this time the Harry Miller Group's acclaimed rock musical, Hair.
After that, the building returned to its role as a movie theatre.
The Melbourne Revival Centre hosted church services from 1980 until it became the Metro Nightclub.

1934 Fullers Theatre renames the building the Apollo Theatre.

1936 The Apollo Theatre become a cinema.

1940 Fullers Theatre renames the building St James Theatre.

1942 The Building is leased by Hollywood movie studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, who purchases it from Fullers Theatres in 1947.

1952 The building is renamed the New Metro Theatre. It is also known as Metro, Bourke Street.

1971-74 The Harry M Miller Group uses the building for live

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performances

1974 Capella Holdings buys the building and reinstates the name The Palace.

1980 The building is bough by Melbourne Revival Centre. 1986-87 Kochner Hotel P/Ls buys the building and reopens it as the Metro Nightclub.

2007 The building is renamed the Palace Theatre and used as a nightclub and live music venue.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is December 18, 1952.

Location. 37° 48.689′ S, 144° 58.336′ E. Marker is in Melbourne, Victoria. It is in East End. It is on Bourke Street 0.1 kilometers west of Spring Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Oceania,

in Australasia,

in the Pacific Ocean,

in South Pacific,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Palace 1840 - 1919

The Two Palace Markers in the Courtyard image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 3, 2026

2. The Two Palace Markers in the Courtyard

(a few steps from this marker); 32-38 Bourke Street (a few steps from this marker); Bourke Street c1900. (within shouting distance of this marker); The Salvation Army Temple (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Windsor Hotel (about 90 meters away); Victorian Houses of Parliament (about 120 meters away); Adam Lindsay Gordon 1932 (about 150 meters away); Scotch College (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melbourne.

Also see . . . Palace Theatre, Melbourne. Wikipedia

The Palace Theatre (also known as The Palace) was an entertainment venue located in Melbourne, Australia. First built for live theatre in 1912, it was also used as a cinema and for live music. It was demolished except for its facade in 2020 after much community opposition, to be replaced by a Le Méridien hotel.

History

The Palace site had a rich history of entertainment uses through many many different incarnations over the decades 1912-2010s. Although altered many times, its superabundance of contributions to Melbourne's theatrical heritage made it worthy of preservation, arguments which unfortunately did
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not prevent its destruction.

(Submitted on June 15, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 15, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.