Invitation card for the private opening of the Wattle Path Palais & Cafe, on the Esplanade, St Kilda, on 30 October 1923. The event was written up in The Argus newspaper the next day as follows: WATTLE PATH PALAIS OPENED. Five thousand persons were present at the "private opening" last night of the Wattle Path Palais and Cafe, St Kilda esplanade. The mayor of St Kilda (Councillor Allan) welcomed the guests on behalf of the management. The floor, 190ft. x 90ft, is claimed to be the largest specially constructed for dancing in Australia. There was much to admire in the colour tones, which blended brown, blue, and gold harmoniously, while soft lighting effects came from old gold georgette and crepe-de-chene lamp shades. A good band was provided. Sixty-five loges are available for parties of dancers. A feature of the building is the open-air pagoda, in which free band concerts are to be given on Sundays.White card, discoloured with age, printed in brown with teal profile in background.wattle path palais & cafe, palais de danse

Bandleader Joe Aronson who played at the Wattle Path, Palais, St Kilda in 1920s and 1930sblack and white photograph, original, unmounted, good conditionOn front signed: Yours in Rythmn Joe Aronson Wattle Path, Palais St Kilda. On back: Miss Vivia? No 1 Blanche St St Kilda

The St. Moritz Ice Rink was a popular ice skating rink on The Esplanade, St. Kilda, Victoria. It operated between 1939–1981. As one of only two ice rinks in Melbourne in the 1940s and 1950s, it played a central role to the sport of ice hockey in Australia. Closed in 1982, it soon suffered a major fire and was then demolished, an event later seen as a major blow to the heritage of St Kilda. It was first built as the Wattle Path Palais de Danse in 1922, a very large dance hall, designed by architects Beaver & Purnell, The Wattle Path was the venue for the first all-Australian dance championship, and featured some of the best dance bands of Australia, as well as from America. Popular throughout the 1920s, it suffered due to the Great Depression, and closed in the early 1930s. From 1933-1936 the building became a film studio, Efftee Studios, for Frank W. Thring. In 1938, businessman Henry Hans "Harry" Kleiner announced that the Wattle Path would become an ice rink. He was sole proprietor until 1953, when he sold the business to J. Gordon and T. Molony, both champion skaters. Trade declined during the 1970s. The building was sold in 1980 to developers Hudson Conway and trucking magnate Lindsay Fox and was closed in early 1982. It was nominated to the Historic Buildings Preservation Council, but a majority of City of St Kilda councillors voted to oppose this action and uphold a demolition permit already issued. The building infamously suffered a fire later that year, leaving only the facades, which were demolished soon after. The site remained vacant until about 1991, when a mid-price hotel called the St Moritz was constructed. By 1993 it was simply called the Novotel St Kilda. The hotel closed in 2019 and was replaced by an apartment complex.black and white photographSt Moritz, St Kilda. Ice Skating. Caf�st moritz, st kilda, the esplanade, ice skating