Last March, The Gasometer Hotel – or, affectionately dubbed The Gaso by locals – closed its doors, leaving a sizeable hole in the Melbourne live music scene.
Soon, the space at 484 Smith Street, Collingwood, will reopen under new ownership and with a new name. Remaining a live music venue, the space will reopen as the Smith St Hotel.
The reopening venue is the project of Melbourne chef and restaurateur Scott Pickett, who also operates restaurants such as the nearby Smith Street Bistro in Collingwood and Longrain in the Melbourne CBD.
In a press release, it was announced that respected music programmers and independent festival operators, Yours And Owls, will spearhead live music at the Smith St Hotel.
Live music programming at the venue is set to spotlight domestic and international touring artists, with a focus on showcasing local emerging talent. Full programming and opening details will be announced soon.
“The question we’ve probably been asked most is whether Smith St Hotel will become a gastro pub,” Pickett commented in a statement.
He continued, “Are we a gastro pub? Fuck no. We’re a live music venue, with great food and drinks.”
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
Yours And Owls Founder Ben Tillman added, “We are really excited to be working with Smith Street Hotel because of its rich history and its deep ties to the Melbourne live music community from its time as The Gasometer Hotel, as well as the significant potential it holds for the future.
“It’s a strong team with a clear vision, and we are looking forward to helping rebuild the community around the venue and contributing to what we believe will become one of Melbourne’s premier live music spaces for a room of this size.”
Music Victoria CEO Fiona Duncan said, “When a live music venue is kept alive, the whole ecosystem benefits.
“The former Gasometer Hotel reopening as Smith St Hotel builds on the site’s legacy and keeps live music embedded in the Collingwood community, supporting artists, audiences and the neighbourhood that surrounds it.”
Last August, The Gaso’s former owners, led by venue director James Martelletti, stated that the venue under this new ownership is “no longer The Gaso.”
Martelletti added that whatever would come next for the institution would be a “cheap shady imitation” from new owners he said had “decided to shit on its legacy instead of support it. Stolen, not saved.”
With a storied history dating back to 1860, The Gaso has long been an institution in Melbourne’s live music scene. However, news broke in early 2025 that the venue would close its doors at the end of March, following Martelletti stepping down as venue director after three years.
After disputing claims made by 3AW radio host Tom Elliott that the venue’s closure happened due to “going woke,” it was announced that The Gaso would be no more after the building owners “rejected the offers” from interested parties in taking over operations.
“As of the 30th of March, the venue that you’ve come to know, love, hang out at or danced all night in will cease to exist,” it was announced. “This is not the outcome we had hoped for, and we’re left disappointed that we are unable to pass the torch on.
“So, we’re treating this as the end.”
