PALAIS
THEATRE
Standing beside Luna Park, the Palais
Theatre began life as a grand picture
palace, where a trip to the
movies offered architectural
drama as well as entertainment
on screen.
PALAIS
THEATRE
Standing beside Luna Park, the
Palais Theatre began life as a
grand picture palace, where
a trip to the movies offered
architectural drama as well
as entertainment on screen.
PALAIS
THEATRE
Standing beside Luna Park, the Palais Theatre began life as a grand picture palace, where a trip to the movies offered architectural drama as well as entertainment on screen.
A GRAND PICTURE PALACE
The present theatre opened in 1927 as Palais Pictures, designed by architect Henry E. White. With room for around 3,000 people, it was an enormous cinema for its time. Imagine audiences gathering here when going to the pictures was a major social occasion, long before films could be streamed anywhere.
DESTROYED AND REBUILT
The Palais has a dramatic chapter in its history. An earlier Palais Pictures building, associated with architects Walter and Marion Burley Griffin, was destroyed by fire in 1925. The building standing here today was constructed as its replacement.
FROM CINEMA TO LIVE PERFORMANCE
When television later reduced cinema attendance, the Palais adapted by becoming a major live performance venue. Its stages have welcomed artists including Louis Armstrong, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Kylie Minogue.
HISTORIC DETAILS TO DISCOVER
If you attend a performance, look for some of the theatre's surviving historic features. These include foot warmers and carved timber bench seats, reminders that audience comfort mattered here even generations ago
THE COLOUR HAS A STORY
Even the Palais Theatre's exterior colour has a history. Restoration research identified its original finish as a sandy tone, rather than the white remembered by many locals, and this discovery guided its repainting. Take another look at the façade: this familiar St Kilda landmark has been rediscovering its original appearance.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
HISTORIC LANDMARK
GREAT PHOTO SPOT
ST KILDA ICON
COMPLETE STOP 2 QUESTION
Answer The Palais Theatre Challenge
Look around the location and use what you discovered to answer the question below.
A CLUE AND A SPECIAL REWARD AWAITS
Enter the correct answer and unlock an exclusive reward for your challenge and also a clue that will be used to unlock your Stop 10 final reward vault vouchers exclusive reward for your challenge.
Note: These clues will be put together to form a code word that will be used to unlock your stop 10 and final reward vault vouchers.
CONTINUE YOUR ST KILDA ADVENTURE
WALK TO STOP 3
THE EDWARD O'DONNELL MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN
From the theatre forecourt, walk back towards Luna Park's giant face entrance.
Continue past the entrance towards the garden area beside Luna Park, in the direction of Acland Street.
Enter O'Donnell Gardens using the public paths.
Look for the tall ornamental fountain with a circular basin.
Walk around its base to find the memorial inscription dedicated to Edward O'Donnell.
You have arrived at Stop 3. Open the Edward O'Donnell page to discover its story and answer your questions.
