Petition Keeping Fremantle Venue's Lease Hopes Alive

24 June 2014 | 3:05 pm | Staff Writer

But the team behind Fly By Night has been denied a meeting with the Environment Minister

A petition set up late last week to provide people with a platform to voice their concern over the possible eviction of Fremantle's iconic Fly By Night venue from its historic home has garnered more than 1300 signatures in less than seven days, with 300 of those coming over the weekend.

Fly By Night is housed in Fremantle's Military Drill Hall, owned by the National Trust WA, which has said it is planning to open expressions of interest for the venue to third parties -- thus leaving Fly By Night, which first set up camp in the drill hall back in 1986, at risk of having to fight for its continued tenancy.

Posting on the venue's Facebook page recently, a representative for the venue could not mask their gratitude when speaking of the burgeoning grassroots movement among the Freo faithful.

"Wow! Just went to fetch the mail and was shocked by the amount of signed petitions mailed. 300 more signatures. Thank you," the post read.

Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter

However, it was followed by some less than pleasing news - that representatives of the venue had been denied the chance to meet with WA Minister for Environment; Heritage Albert Jacob.

"I was also shocked to receive a letter from the Minister of Environment; Heritage declining the Club's request to meet," the venue explained in its post. "Cheeky bugger. Does he know he's a public servant and the Military Drill Hall is a public building? Well, I guess a petition with thousands of signatures will get his attention."

Still, the affirmation must be strong for executive director John Reid and his staff, as an earlier post indicated a long-planned meeting with National Trust WA councillors and its Finance and Audit Committee yesterday had yielded at least semi-positive results.

"Members of the Fly board and I finally met with the National Trust WA Councillors and their Fianance and Audit committee today," Reid posted.

"I am happy to say I had a receptive audience and on face value I believe the Club has gained some respect and understanding from the executive body about the business structure of the Fly by Night Musicians Club and how it actually operates and what the entity has achieved within the Military Drill Hall in the last 28 years.

"The EOI is still a threat as I didn't get a leased [sic] signed today unfortunately, but the Club now knows the agenda of the National Trust WA in regard to the Military Drill Hall. Finally communication has made transparency an actual reality."

Club representatives were scheduled to meet with the city's Mayor, Brad Pettitt, today.

If you want to help Fly By Night reach their projected goal of 10,000 signatures by September (and why wouldn't you?), you can still sign the petition.