City of Port Phillip proposes new 3,000 capacity music venue for St Kilda

Melbourne’s Port Phillip Council has submitted a proposal to construct a 3,000 capacity live music venue near the St Kilda foreshore.

As part of the council’s St Kilda Triangle redevelopment project, the proposal will see the council lobby for financial assistance to develop the land adjacent to the iconic Palais Theatre, which was recently used as the site of the city’s April Sun pop-up concert series.

The proposed venue will also be accompanied by an underground car park, pavilion and children’s park as part of the council’s plans to reshape the cultural perception of the St Kilda area following several recent venue closures.

Speaking with the Herald Sun, Port Phillip City councillor Andrew Bond said that St Kilda had been struggling economically due to the absence of international backpackers, and that the project will serve as “a bit of a shot in the arm” for the foreshore precinct.

“We’re not going to have overseas backpackers for a while so a project like this would certainly bring a lot of Victorians to St Kilda,” Bond said.

“There is a gap in the Melbourne market for a stand-up, medium-scale music venue. Somewhere between your local pub and the tennis centre, for those who can attract crowds of 2,000 to 3,000 people.

“We will make a decision to look at doing something on the triangle but we need the cost, we need the process, we need to know if there is any interest, which I believe there is.’’

Earlier this week, the City of Port Phillip announced a lockdown assistance scheme to support local venues and promoters who had lost income due to gig cancellations, with up to $5,000 a week being made available to eligible parties.