Palais de Danse, St Kilda facts for kids
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| Address | Lower Esplanade, St Kilda |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | ACoordinates: Unknown argument format |
| Construction | |
| Demolished | 1969 |
The Palais de Danse was a super popular dance hall in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. It was right next to the famous Palais Theatre. Built in 1919, it had an amazing geometric design inside. This cool look was created by famous architects Walter Burley Griffin and his wife, Marion Griffin. The Palais de Danse was a favorite spot for fun in the early 1900s. Sadly, a fire destroyed it in 1969.
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A Dance Hall's Story
The Palais de Danse was part of a group of exciting buildings. These were all built by the Phillips brothers. They also created Luna Park nearby in 1912.
The First Palais
The very first Palais de Danse was built in 1913. It was made of timber and had a cool arched roof. This building was on the spot where the current Palais Theatre stands. In 1915, it started showing movies too. It then became known as the first Palais Theatre.
A New Home for Dance
In 1919, a much bigger building was constructed. This new building was placed over the original Palais. The original building was then moved next door. It became the Palais de Danse once again! The new, larger building became the Palais Pictures.
A Popular Spot
The Palais de Danse was huge. It could hold almost 3,000 people at once. It was a very popular place for dancing and fun. People loved its magical feeling. On hot nights, special wall panels could open up. This let in cool sea breezes from the bay.
The End of an Era
The Palais Pictures building burned down in 1926. It was rebuilt in 1927 and became the Palais Theatre we know today. Sadly, the second Palais de Danse also burned down in 1969.
Amazing Architecture
The outside of the 1919 Palais de Danse was very striking. It had a big arched shape that matched its roof. Large square pillars stood on each side. These pillars had pretty classical details and fancy stepped towers on top.
Inside the Dance Hall
The inside of the Palais de Danse was truly special. It was designed around 1920 by Walter Burley Griffin and his wife, Marion Griffin. They were famous architects from America and Australia. The dance floor was surrounded by seating areas. These areas were behind cool, simple columns.
A Unique Ceiling
Above the columns was an amazing frieze. This was a band of complex, colorful panels that lit up. At first, you could see the metal roof beams. But soon, a new ceiling was added. It had angled ribs and three rows of large, geometric lamps. These lamps added to the magical atmosphere.
