On the night of 26 September a fire gutted the former Austral Theatre in Johnston Street Collingwood. The cinema opened in 1921 and after closure was for some time a skating rink before becoming a popular carpet business for many years. Despite various changes to suit these uses, much of the ornate interior remained visible. In 2021 Collingwood Historical Society was involved in a Panel Hearing requesting interior heritage controls for this theatre and two others in the City of Yarra. The attempt failed. Later that year CHS attended a five day VCAT hearing in relation to a planning application for a multi storey apartment building on the site, suggesting that plans be modified to incorporate and preserve the decorative ceiling work as well as preserving more of the Johnston Street facade. While the VCAT ruling made some changes, preservation of the ornate interiors was not incorporated.
Years passed and the owners did not commence construction. The building has recently been empty. An investigation is underway as the fire is deemed suspicious.
