Prince of Wales Hotel, St Kilda

Originally a guesthouse in the 1860s, The Prince of Wales Hotel on the corner of Fitzroy and Acland Streets in the Melbourne seaside suburb of St Kilda is an institution. The current building, dating from 1936, was designed by architect R.H. McIntyre.

I remember the POW as a great place to see bands, it still is. Since the building was remodelled as The Prince Complex in 1999, it has managed to retain it’s link with the St Kilda people and The Prince Bandroom still features the best of Alternative music.

The building itself is four storeys tall with three streamline balconies which emphasis the horizontal lines of the facade. The corner is rather plain but the tower above the entrance is topped with simple geometric decoration and a flagpole.

If you are interested in reading more about St Kilda hotels, The St Kilda Historical Society has produced a book called Pots, Punks and Punters A History of the Hotels in St Kilda and South Melbourne