Last dance for this well-known Sydney movie scene location?

A historic shop front and rooftop used in an iconic Australian movie scene could be at risk from demolition and development, according to an inner-west residents’ action group.

The building at 324 Victoria Rd, Marrickville was used in one of the scenes of 1992’s Strictly Ballroom, starring Paul Mercurio.

For the movie’s filming, the shopfront was turned into a dance studio, known as “Kendall’s”. 

In the movie, Mercurio and co-star Tara Morice dance on the rooftop above the shop, next to a Coke advertising sign built as a temporary set. In some shots, Marrickville Rd can be seen in the background, along with a sunset.

Mercurio and Morice are also shown dancing inside the top floor of the shopfront, with the shop’s distinctive bay window behind them.

The building alongside the shopfront, at 322 Victoria Rd, is now up for sale, with real estate agents Pacific City stating it is “suitable for many uses and potentially for future development if combined with the neighbour (sic) properties”.

As is the case with most of the Marrickville town centre, 324 Victoria Rd is not a heritage item, nor in a heritage conservation area.

The site also enjoys a 20m planning control height limit which means a six-storey apartment building could be constructed there. An apartment building has already been constructed on a neighbouring site.

The above factors means it would be difficult to argue against an application to demolish and redevelop the shopfront.

There’s a different planning approach in the Dulwich Hill and Petersham commercial areas, both of which are covered by heritage conservation areas and controls which allow new apartment buildings on the condition they retain a portion of the shopfront, including the parapet.

This means these two streets have retained their traditional late 19th century and early 20th century retail character, while allowing new infill development.

In a Facebook post, resident action group Save Marrickville raised concerns that the Strictly Ballroom filming site could be incorporated into a development site.

“Recognise these iconic shops/flats? The beautiful bay window and rooftop featured in ‘Strictly Ballroom’,” the Facebook post said.

“Recently they all sold and several businesses closed.

“What does the future hold for these last remaining intact historical buildings that form the main gateway to Marrickville Rd?”

“What does the future hold for these last remaining intact historical buildings that form the main gateway to Marrickville Rd?”

Save Marrickville

Comments on Facebook, in response to the post, included “disappearing character”, “lovely Edwardian stretch of buildings” and “Let’s pray the new owners keep it as it is!!”

Another Facebook poster said: “I remember that I walked by there the night they were doing the filming, on the way home from the bus stop near the M’ville Rd / Victoria Rd intersection to my place in Queen Street. Couldn’t work out why there was a Coca Cola sign on the roof … but it was part of the set that had been built earlier, for the film-shoot!”

Mercurio is currently a State MP in the Victorian Parliament.

When Sydney Insider visited 324 Victoria Rd on 5 February, the travel agent located at the site still looked to be operational.

Should the shopfronts at 324 Victoria Rd, Marrickville be retained?