That's Built · Building report

Comedy Theatre

228-240 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Generated 8 November 2026
Commercial · Office

26 mheight

5floors

1928completed

2businesses

5permits

Development milestones

Completed

1928

Comedy Theatre completed: 5 floors

Building team

Owner: J. C. Williamson Theatres
Owner: Marriner Group
Developer: LaSalle Investment Management
Architect: Architectus

Planning & subdivision

Zone: CCZ1
Overlays: DDO1, DDO10, HO632, PO1
Strata plan: TP611666 · 1 lots
Scores: 🚆 9 · ☕ 7 · 🌳 8 · ✨ 10

Timeline

26 Nov 2025Revised tower plan over Comedy Theatre returns to City of Melbourne with residents objecting
A revised proposal for a 27-storey tower over the Comedy Theatre, with hotel and commercial components and a significant change of use, is back before the City of Melbourne ahead of a 2 December council committee meeting. Residents of nearby Punch Lane say they were blindsided by the new plans.

Jul 2022LaSalle proposes cantilevered office tower over the Comedy Theatre
LaSalle Investment Management lodged plans with the City of Melbourne for an office tower cantilevered over the heritage-listed theatre, designed by Architectus and developed with theatre owner Marriner Group. Published reports gave differing storey counts for the proposal, 23 and 35 storeys.

2011Council census records it as office, 5 floors
Name recorded: Comedy Theatre

20111 building permit · about $40k of new works
Largest: Comedy Theatre - amenities upgrade

2008Council census records it as office, 5 floors
Name recorded: COMEDY THEATRE

20021 certificate · about $10k of new works
Largest: Addition to an office - new wall & door.

2002First council census entry: performances, conferences, ceremonies, 5 floors

20001 certificate · about $190 of new works
Largest: Installation of alarm signalling equipment

19992 building permits and 1 certificate · about $92k of new works
Largest: Alterations to ground floor foyer

19981 building permit · about $35k of new works
Largest: Remove fire hydrant hoses, install hose reels and emergency lighting

19971 building permit and 1 certificate · about $13k of new works
Largest: Installation of emergency lights and exit signs - Basement, Ground and Floor

1928Comedy Theatre completed: 5 floors
Derived from Wikidata

Building permits and certificates (9)

Each cost is the estimate on that record. Stages of a project often repeat its full value, so these don't add up to what was spent.

27 Jan 2011	Comedy Theatre - amenities upgrade	$40k
20 Mar 2002	Addition to an office - new wall & door.	$10k
14 Sept 2000	Installation of alarm signalling equipment	$190
19 July 1999	Alterations to the seating arrangements and a new toilet at th Comedy theatre	$4k
05 Mar 1999	Installation of smoke detection system	$23k
21 Jan 1999	Alterations to ground floor foyer	$65k
09 June 1998	Remove fire hydrant hoses, install hose reels and emergency lighting	$35k
02 Sept 1997	Deletion of canvas hoses	$200
22 Aug 1997	Installation of emergency lights and exit signs - Basement, Ground and Floor	$13k

Questions and answers

Is Comedy Theatre residential or commercial?
Comedy Theatre is a commercial building. The City of Melbourne lists its main use as office.

When was Comedy Theatre built?
Comedy Theatre was completed in 1928.

How many floors does Comedy Theatre have?
Comedy Theatre has 5 floors above ground.

What businesses are in Comedy Theatre?
The latest council census counted 2 businesses in Comedy Theatre, including Melbourne International Comedy Festival Limited.

Is there office or retail space for lease in Comedy Theatre?
See the commercial listings on this page, or search this address on realcommercial.com.au and commercialrealestate.com.au.

Who designed and built Comedy Theatre?
LaSalle Investment Management developed Comedy Theatre and Architectus designed it. The building team section has the sources.

How tall is Comedy Theatre?
About 26 metres, measured from the City of Melbourne's 3D building model. It's number 591 of 1596 buildings in Melbourne by height.

What public transport is near Comedy Theatre?
Parliament Station is the nearest train station, about 3 minutes' walk. The nearest tram stop is Spring St/Bourke St #9, about 3 minutes' walk.

What is the planning zone for Comedy Theatre?
The site is in the Capital City Zone - Schedule 1 (CCZ1). It's also under a Heritage Overlay (HO632).

Does Comedy Theatre have an owners corporation?
Plan of subdivision TP611666 has 1 lot.

Has any work been done on Comedy Theatre recently?
The City of Melbourne has issued 5 building permits for Comedy Theatre since 1997. The most recent was in January 2011.

Sources: City of Melbourne building permits (CC BY 4.0); CLUE building information (CC BY 4.0); CLUE business establishments (CC BY 4.0); Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF) (Open G-NAF EULA (CC BY 4.0 based)). General information from public records, not legal, financial or building advice.