Melbourne Athenaeum

The Melbourne Athenaeum is a three-story neoclassical building on Collins Street topped with a Minerva statue. Inside, it houses a main theatre with around 880 seats, a smaller studio theatre for performances, a restaurant, and a membership library.

The institution was founded in 1839 as the Melbourne Mechanics Institute, serving as the city's first cultural establishment focused on education and public entertainment. Over time it evolved into a major performing arts venue that continues to serve Melbourne's cultural needs.

The venue functions as a gathering place where audiences experience diverse performing arts throughout the year. It plays a role in shaping Melbourne's cultural life through comedy festivals and opera productions that draw different communities.

The building sits in the city center on Collins Street and is easy to reach on foot. The venue provides dining options and bar facilities for visitors, making it convenient to arrive early or spend time before and after performances.

The venue screened the premiere of The Story of the Kelly Gang in 1906, a landmark moment in Australian cinema history. This film is considered one of the earliest narrative feature films and represents a turning point in how cinema developed internationally.

Location: Melbourne

Inception: 1839

Architects: Smith & Johnson

Official opening: 1839

Capacity: 880

Website: http://melbourneathenaeum.org.au

GPS coordinates: -37.81504,144.96736

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:44