Heritage moves to save Melbourne's Festival Hall

Melbourne’s Festival Hall could be saved after all, with heritage protection.

After a planning application with City of Melbourne for a development on the Dudley Street site, it was nominated for the Victorian Heritage Register in January.

The venue has over 60 years hosted music acts as The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and memorable boxing matches with Lester Ellis, Lionel Rose and Anthony Mundine.

Heritage Victoria’s recommendation is based on a number of factors, including Festival Hall’s historical and social significance at a state level; its place in the state’s sporting and cultural history books; and along, socially-significant relationship with Victoria’s live music community.

If the Heritage Council of Victoria decides to include Festival Hall on the Victorian Heritage Register, any proposed development would need a heritage permit before it could proceed.

The community can make submissions at heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au

Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said this morning, “Nothing speaks to Melbourne’s arts, music and sporting culture quite like Festival Hall.

“It has a proud history, and heritage protection will give it a safe and secure future too.

“Inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register will mean any development on the Festival Hall site will have to respect the character and the history that makes Festival Hall so special.”