Festival Hall Melbourne, West Melbourne, VIC Venue Guide
About Festival Hall Melbourne
Festival Hall is a historic entertainment venue at 300 Dudley Street, West Melbourne, Victoria 3003. Originally opened in 1913 as West Melbourne Stadium, it was built for boxing and professional wrestling and became known as "the House of Stoush" under promoter John Wren. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1955 and rebuilt in time for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics (gymnastics and wrestling). In October 2020, Hillsong Church purchased the venue; it continues to host concerts and entertainment events alongside church services. Capacity varies by configuration: about 1,100 for intimate setups to up to 5,400 for full-capacity events with mixed seating and standing. Layouts include General Admission (standing floor with reserved balcony), fully reserved seating, and "in the round" with a central stage. Festival Hall has hosted legendary artists including The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, and more recently Ed Sheeran, Foo Fighters, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Venue Features
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | ~1,100 (intimate) to 5,400 (full, mixed seating/standing) |
| Layouts | GA (standing floor + reserved balcony), fully reserved seating, or in-the-round |
| History | 1913 West Melbourne Stadium; rebuilt 1955–1956; Hillsong purchased 2020 |
| Use | Concerts, fan meetings, entertainment events |
Facilities
- Flexible floor and balcony layout
- Multiple entry doors – check your ticket for correct door
- Accessibility information available at festivalhall.com.au/accessibility
Address & Transport
Address: Festival Hall, 300 Dudley Street, West Melbourne, VIC 3003. Check your ticket for which entry door to use.
- Tram: Routes 30, 35 (free City Circle), and 86 stop at the corner of Latrobe and Spencer Streets; 5-minute walk along Spencer Street, then left into Dudley Street.
- Train: Southern Cross Station – 12–15 min walk (1.1 km) north along Spencer St, left into Dudley St. North Melbourne Station – 8–10 min walk (900 m) south via Adderley St or Railway Place to Dudley St.
- Bus: Route 220 runs along Dudley Street; use stop 5.
- Parking: No venue carpark. Street parking in West Melbourne/North Melbourne (check signed times). Nearby car parks: Wilson Digital Harbour (400 m), NewQuay Docklands (600 m), The District Docklands (850 m), Marvel Stadium (1.1 km).
- Rideshare drop-off: Use Rosslyn Street (parallel to Dudley St) for safety; avoid drop-off on Dudley St before the lights.
Event Guide
Before You Arrive
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Valid ticket | All guests must hold a valid ticket |
| Entry door | Check ticket for which entry door to use |
| ID | Present ID if required by promoter or ticketing platform |
| Arrival | Arrive in good time for security and entry |
Seating
Layout varies by event: GA (standing floor with reserved balcony), fully reserved, or in-the-round. Check your ticket for section, row, and seat.
Venue Rules
- Follow photography and recording rules set by promoter and venue
- No smoking inside the venue
- Only purchase tickets through official channels; resale or scalping may result in refused entry