Under threat iconic Melbourne venue could be saved from demolition

Melbourne's iconic Festival Hall could be saved from demolition under plans by the state's heritage authority to protect it.

State Government body Heritage Victoria has recommended the long-standing venue be included on the Victorian Heritage Register, meaning plans by its owners to knock it down are unlikely to be approved, The Age reports.

It's the only remaining Australian venue where The Beatles played and has hosted The Chemical Brothers, Radiohead and Justice in more recent times, with Kaytranada, Tiesto and Carl Cox's PURE taking over in 2018.

Festival Hall's significance is more cultural than architectural, Heritage Victoria executive director Steven Avery's recommendation states.

The statement of significance cites the former boxing hall and 1956 Olympic Games venue's "importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria's cultural history and "strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural and spiritual reasons."

Owner Stadiums Limited had lodged a planning application to demolish most of the hall and build two 16-storey towers on the site, which they intended to sell to a developer.

Scott Carbines is Mixmag's Australian Digital Content Editor, follow him on Twitter