It appears the $10 million in State Government funding to erect a Music Hall of Fame in Victoria wasn’t simply empty party rhetoric spouted in the lead-up to the recent state election. Among those now vying for the government cash is St Kilda’s iconic yet ailing Palais Theatre.
As The Leader reports, Port Phillip Council will face off against Lord Mayor Robert Doyle to contend for the funding, which was promised by Labor in the lead-up to last month’s election, part of a $22.2 million package to boost the state’s music industry.
“We think it would make a lot of sense for it to be at the Palais,” Mayor Amanda Stevens told the Leader. “There’s a huge amount of musical history in St Kilda and we’d be really keen to secure the extra funding.”
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The state government has already pledged $13.4 million towards repairing the crumbling St Kilda venue, with council vowing to “revitalise the Triangle site to once again become the beating heart of the St Kilda foreshore”, a point outlined in its draft cultural charter.
St Kilda tourism chief executive Erin Joyce said securing the Hall of Fame would “put St Kilda back on the map”, while making it part of the live music precinct envisioned for the St Kilda Triangle would “ensure it is a destination, a vibrant welcoming and attractive place for international visitors”.
However, in order to secure the funding, Port Phillip Council will need to convince Albert Park MP Martin Foley, the newly appointed Minister for Creative Industries, that the seaside locale, which provided the launching pad for Nick Cave and Paul Kelly, is right for the project.
The Australian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame proposal has already been given the seal of approval from Molly Meldrum and Michael Gudinski, while Music Victoria chief executive Patrick Donovan has said that the Palais would provide the perfect home for the Hall of Fame as it is “highly visible”.
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Mr Donovan said that an immersive, multimedia-focused, experiential museum along the lines of ACMI or the Science Museum would be ideal for the project, likely to house thousands of music memorabilia items from the collections of Molly Meldrum and Mushroom Records boss Michael Gudinski.
Mr Donovan hoped the project would be well underway before the next state election, saying, “Where it’s going to be will be the last thing that is decided.” He added that while “a lot of ducks need to line up for it to be at the Palais, I certainly think it’s a really good location”.
Other serious contenders, Mr Donovan said, are in the municipalities of Yarra, Moreland, and Melbourne, ranging from The Palace and the Forum to the former Collingwood TAFE site. However, in addition to its visibility, the Palais is in desperate need of funding and restoration.
