The Athenaeum Theatre in Collins St. has a remarkable history, beginning its life in 1839 as a Mechanics Institute for public technical tuition, the building being completed in 1842, adding a School Of Arts in 1846 before its name changed to the Melbourne Athenaeum in 1872.

It housed a library which was its primary function until 1924 when the main theatre was built inside. However, it holds the remarkable record of the first film shown in Australia there in 1896 and the world's first feature film, 'The Story Of The Kelly Gang', being shown there in 1906. It was mainly used as a cinema until 1976 when it became Melbourne Theatre Company's primary venue, which is now Hamer Hall for the MTC.

It now has a lively and wide range of purposes, from theatre and opera to comedy, heavily used for the Melbourne Comedy Festival including its opening gala, as well as Hillsong Church on Sundays. It has housed comedy greats such as Ross Noble, Danny Bhoya  as well as Melbourne band Client Liaison.