It has some of Melbourne's most spectacular bay views, from a free public open space so seldom promoted that many locals don't even know it's there.

But now the owners of the St Kilda Sea Baths want to take that million-dollar view, apply a million-dollar renovation and effectively – according to local activists – privatise it.

Alan West on the free public rooftop on Thursday. Credit:Simon Schluter

The company that has leased the sea baths from the Victorian government since 1999 is the Virgin Islands-based South Pacific St Kilda Pty Ltd.

It has applied to Port Phillip Council to develop the top of the pavilion, with only 'sections' of the rooftop to be maintained as public space.