Melbourne has lost Australian television’s biggest annual awards night after the Victorian Government confirmed it would withdraw its funding for the Logies.

The city hosted the first ever event in 1959, when the Gold Logie went to TV legend Graham Kennedy.

While the awards have been held in Sydney on a handful of occasions over the decades, Melbourne has been its traditional home.

The Victorian Government had been providing about $1 million for the event each year.

But it said after “extensive consultation with key stakeholders and a comprehensive event analysis”, it would pull the funding for next year’s ceremony.

Major Events Minister John Eren said the event was never profitable for the state and it was only funded for sentimental reasons.

“I think it’s time to pass the baton. We’re looking at value for money when you spend taxpayers’ dollars and you want maximum return on those dollars,” he said.

“We just feel we’ve got to re-evaluate every single event and we’ve come to the conclusion that though it’s been a great partnership over many years, it’s time to attract some events that will actually bring lots of dollars to our state.

“I would say that it’s just not worth it anymore. It’s the responsible thing to do, and whichever state gets it, good luck to them.”

In May, the NSW Government lobbied organisers to move the Logies to Tamworth in 2018, with the possibility of taking it to other regional centres like Dubbo and Albury the following years.

Mr Eren said Queensland was another possible location.

He said the Government had tried to negotiate a solution with the organisers, but it did not work out.