The Estonian House in Melbourne is being sold, and the Committee of the Melbourne Estonian Society is actively working to secure a new venue for future activities.
The sale
The Estonian House Co-operative Ltd., the property’s owner, has partnered with Burgess Rawson as its commercial real estate agent, running an expression of interest campaign to attract potential clients. The plan is to sell and vacate the building by the end of March 2025.
In early 2025, the committee plans to host a special weekend event themed “Farewell, Estonian House!” This will be an opportunity for the Melbourne Estonian community to gather, reminisce, and bid farewell to the building.
Located in the heart of Brunswick West, the Estonian House was originally built in 1928 as the Western Theatre. The Estonian community in Melbourne acquired the property, formerly known as the Marco Polo Cinema, in 1971. Funding came from the sale of a previous property, fundraising efforts, and the sale of additional co-operative shares. Volunteers transformed the cinema into a lively cultural hub with spaces for community events and facilities. Since its grand opening in 1972, the building has hosted numerous cultural and educational events, becoming a centre for preserving and celebrating Estonian heritage in Melbourne.
The property covers 1,238 square meters and includes a theatre, stage, green room, commercial kitchen, bar, under-stage clubhouse, viewing balcony, first-floor function room, third-floor boardroom/office space, two retail stores facing Melville Road, and a one-bedroom residence.
Finding a new home
A dedicated working group of the Melbourne Estonian Society is focused on locating a smaller space that will still accommodate future activities and events. They are considering both purchasing and renting options within a 10-kilometer radius of Melbourne’s CBD, prioritising a location that will be convenient for society members. A list of essential requirements has been created to ensure the new venue meets the needs of various activity groups, such as the Estonian folk dancers, choir and playgroup.
The Melbourne Estonian Society remains committed to organising activities for the local Estonian community, even if permanent premises aren’t secured by March 2025. Temporary rental options will be available if needed.
Why sell?
The idea of selling the Estonian House has been considered since 2018. That year, the Executive Committees of the Estonian House Co-operative and the Melbourne Estonian Society formed a working group to assess the needs of the local Estonian community. This process included extensive consultations with community groups, asking questions such as:
- What are the current space/building requirements of the Estonian community in Melbourne?
- Does the current Estonian House meet these requirements?
- How often does the Estonian community use the Estonian House in Melbourne?
- Looking to the future, what are the community’s space/building needs?
- Is a dedicated venue needed to host Estonian activities in Melbourne?
- If so, are the facilities and size appropriate?
- If not, what type of venue and related arrangements are required?
The working group’s findings revealed that the local Estonian community is shrinking, the current venue is too large for its purposes, and operating costs are too high. They recommended selling the property.
You can read the working group report here.
The ownership structure
The Estonian House in Melbourne is owned by the Estonian House Co-operative Ltd., which is a separate legal entity from the Melbourne Estonian Society. This means the co-operative legally owns and manages the building, including decisions about its maintenance, rental or sale.
The Melbourne Estonian Society is a community organisation that organises cultural, educational and social activities. It uses the Estonian House as a venue for these purposes but doesn’t directly own it.
The society and the co-operative work closely together, with the co-operative allowing the society to use the property to host events and meetings. Major decisions, such as selling the property, would involve consulting both the co-operative’s shareholders and the broader Estonian community. This structure allows the Estonian community in Melbourne to maintain a collective asset like the Estonian House while enabling the society to focus on cultural and community activities without the full financial or operational burden of property ownership.
Interested in buying the house or helping?
If you’re interested in purchasing the property, you can read more details here.
For questions about the sale or to offer assistance in finding a new venue, please email: info@melbourneestoniansociety.com.
Stay updated on the future of Estonian House by signing up for the Melbourne Estonian Society newsletter here.