Palais Theatre, Melbourne

The art deco Palais Theatre is a much loved Saint Kilda landmark and one of Australia鈥檚 largest seated theatres. Walter Burley Griffin was originally commissioned to design and built the Palais at Saint Kilda, but when his construction was engulfed in fire just before it was completed, Griffin moved on and Henry E. White was engaged. A bigger, bolder design was offered by white and the result was the grand edifice that remains today. The Palais was built as a dual purpose theatre to show films as well as to serve as a concert hall. When built it was one of 鈥渢he鈥� places to go out, offering a double movie feature, plus entertainment from bands, singers, dancers and other entertainers on the bill. On July 3rd, 1929, it was one of the very first Australian theatres to screen 鈥渢alkies鈥�.

Until the 1950s it was mostly used as a cinema, but following that, world-class performers such as the Bolshoi Ballet, the Rolling Stones, Tom Jones, and Bob Hope have all tread the boards. The lavish construction boasts a Moorish interior and exterior, with a chief feature of the fa莽ade being the twin-domed towers. In recognition of the significant place that the Palais Theatre holds in Australian theatrical history, there are regular theatre tours held.

Why You Should Visit:
Absolutely gorgeous after all the renovations have been completed.
Inside and out, the architecture and attention to detail are jaw-dropping.
Comfortable, clean, and always room to move even in a sold-out show.

Tip:
Be warned 鈥� if you get seating in the front upper area you must remain seated the whole show.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Melbourne. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Palais Theatre
Sight Location: Melbourne, Australia (See walking tours in Melbourne)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

St. Kilda District Walking Tour

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