Proposal for apartment complex includes demolition of most of the famous performance venue

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

It may have hosted the Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash in its heyday but if developers get their way, Melbourne’s Festival Hall will be demolished to make way for a $65m apartment complex.

A planning proposal has been lodged with Melbourne City council for two apartment towers (one of 16 storeys), shops and an office space at the west Melbourne site.

The redevelopment plan includes demolition of most of the hall but the retention of the Dudley street facade, the boxing ring and stage.

Southbank-based architects Rothelowman said keeping those historical items was a “celebration” of the cultural aspects of the site.

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“Festival Hall is a performance venue – we believe that we need to harness the emotional aspects of this venue and apply it through a filter of what it means to live harmoniously,” the redevelopment’s vision statement reads.

There are no plans to build a replacement performance space on the site.

Built by Melbourne businessman John Wren in 1915, Festival Hall became known as the House of Stoush due to its popularity as a boxing and wrestling venue.

It was destroyed by fire in 1955 but rebuilt in time for the 1956 Olympic Games where it played host to the gymnastics and wrestling.

It has since hosted hundreds of local and international acts including the Sex Pistols, Oasis, Soundgarden, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and American rapper Kanye West.

