September 2025
If you didn’t know the background, you’d say the Le Meridien hotel in Bourke Street which opened early 2023 was ok, it’s low rise set back, and much preferable to the original huge 30 storey proposal. But unfortunately it replaced a much loved music venue in an historic theatre, the Palace, keeping only the facade.
The tower was announced in 2013, way over the preferred height limit in the area, back when they were being ignored, but soon got redesigned lower – the worst part is that the City of Melbourne were slow to try to heritage-list the interior, and the developer just started stripping it all out in late 2014, more or less in secret.
Built in 1912/16/23 it wasn’t all that intact, with the side boxes removed in the 1950s, but still, lots of lovely bits. And the facade is also the least interesting bit, mostly late Deco 1950s, with only the leadlight first floor windows remaining from 1916 – but given a streetscape that’s all historic, it’s better that than a new one.
Most pics from my days with @melbourne_heritage_action.
Storey of Melbourne 
Is there anything recognisable once you step through the doors?
I remember seeing an act there, it was so easy to move around and the old cinema foyer areas were good to take a break in. A real loss as a venue…
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See text only facade
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Wasn’t it a dance club perhaps in the 1990s? I am sure I went there. I remember the outrage at the stripping out of the interior of the building.
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