Venue News: Legacy Names Revived, Closures, Precincts For Canberra & More

OPENING IN AUGUST

Jarmer Room Sessions, Adelaide

Adelaide gets a new mid-size performance venue, the Jarmer Room Sessions in Bowden. It’s set up to be flexible, with a 240 capacity standing, 160 seated in theatre mode, multiple stage options for DJs, bands, comedy and strings.

The room is is attached to well-known eatery Jarmer’s Kitchen at 18 Park Terrace, Bowden. The Friday sessions is presented by Our Kid Promotions. The original August 2 launch had to be scrapped but Friday August 30 has A Night To Remember: The Honey Badgers & 63 Deluxe.

Pawn & Co, Brisbane

Melbourne’s Pawn & Co opens in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley on August 8, a part- pawnshop, part-perfumery and part late night club concept by Josh Lefers and Stephen Wools. It’s on the former site of Laruche nightclub in Bakery Lane which closed in 2023 after 13 years.

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MAKING A RETURN

The Bendi Sets Return Date

The Mill Brewery, the new management of the metal-inclined Bendigo Hotel (“the Bendi”) in Melbourne, which closed in March, locked in August 31 for its return, with sets by C.O.F.F.I.N, Serpette, Stepmother and DJ Orange Rat.

Sweethearts Name Returns To Darwin

A new music venue in the Cinema Collective in the Darwin CBD’s Mitchell Street – opened up with the intention of “creating a unique music venue that celebrated the Territory”.

The name for the $20 million redevelopment with a dedicated live music space was inspired by Sweetheart, the notorious 5.1 metre (17 foot) male saltwater crocodile in the ‘70s, and the Darwin nightspot at Mindil Beach casino which lasted until the 2000s.

Platinum Logic

The name and legacy of the Gold Coast dance club featuring international DJs which closed in 2019, is translated to a new dance club on the famed Orchid Avenue strip.

Nightclub operator Matty Turner is using the name for his second venue, opening in September, situated above his Empire R&B Nightclub and spending $1.8 million on fit-out.

FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, BABY!

Crowd-Funding by Elixir Music House Cairns

Facing high operating costs including a $100,000 insurance premium, Elixir Music House in Cairns is testing an idea that the music industry has been talking about as a solution to the venue crisis.

That is, to set up a non-profit organisation with enthusiastic gig-loving locals to help daughter- father owners Sky Rixon and Bill Shields run it.

They have been showcasing original alternative and emerging acts since taking over six years ago, and haven’t paid themselves a wage to keep it going. Plans are to buy the venue for $1.5 million. Phase One is to sell 7,500 hexagonal wooden tiles for $200 each in return for personalised branded tiles, a four year membership and other benefits.

Special Beer For The Cranker, Adelaide

As the campaign continues to save The Cranker (The Crown and Anchor) from being turned into a 19-storey student accommodations, SA brewery Coopers is joining in with a special Save the Cranker beer.

The proceeds of each sale of the “high-quality, crisp golden lager” on tap at the hotel goes to the campaign. A statement from Coopers noted,

“The Cranker holds a significant place in South Australia’s rich hospitality and live music history.

“Not only is The Cranker a well-run local pub, but it’s an iconic gathering place at a time when our state has lost many live music and hospitality venues.

“Coopers Brewery has long supported live music and local pubs. Authentic local venues like the Cranker are the lifeblood of the hospitality and live music industries both here and right across Australia.”

Another rally is expected in August. The first one, in April, drew 3,000. Since then, 26,000 are involved, according to campaign strategy director Patrick Maher. Protests have included pop-up venues and radio ads. A decision on the fate of the venue is expected in November, delayed to allow more public consultation.

VALE STEPHEN CONLON

1980s Sydney venue owner and band booker Stephen Conlon has passed away in Thailand, where he lived with his Namtip. He was best remembered as fully supportive of emerging bands as manager and booker at the Sandringham Hotel in the mid-80s and the Lansdowne 1991 and 1992. Himself a musician, he made sure that his acts got good deals and were treated with respect.

TURNING OFF THE LIGHT

Melbourne/Victoria Loses Four

Long time EDM hub The Mercat threw one final party before the doors slammed shut. It originally opened in 1990, returned in 2008, set to close off in 2016 when the adjacent Queen Victoria Market expansion meant it could no longer have a late night licence, but survived.

The Palais Hepburn, set in the beautiful Hepburn Springs and regarded as one of Victoria’s best regional music spaces, closed abruptly. Operators Richard Fanale and Brendan Wyke blamed “the current state of the economy, increase in expenses and other unforeseen circumstances” and thanked their staff including booker Monique Harvey and 2IC Erin Phillips.

Also closing its doors suddenly was The Mallow in Ballarat Central, which “ill-health” and “badly needed renovations” cited at various times. It was supposed to return but its Facebook page quietly slapped on “permanently closed”.

The 135-year-old pub The Carringbush Hotel in Melbourne fell into liquidation after operators closed it blaming “horrendous” expenses. But they had been feuding with the landlord, who’d taken them to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) over a number of issues including loud music.

The Palace Lounge Bar, Brisbane

The Palace Lounge Bar in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, which opened during COVID restrictions, appointed a liquidator after closing in March. Shahin Hussain from H&H Advisory revealed it owed $254,000 to creditors. The biggest was the Commonwealth Bank owed $170,000 and the Australian Tax Office at $54,000.

Hussain added the club couldn’t keep its head above water as the pandemic continued. “They weren’t able to meet their lease requirements and the business’ landlord evicted the business.”

PRECINCTS, INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR CANBERRA

The ACT Greens are promising three ways to get funding to fix up Canberra’s live music scene. “Half of our musicians warned less than $6,000 last year,” they pointed out.

1. “Get the settings right for our Civic and Gungahlin entertainment precincts by working with the community and the sector.” At the same time, set up dedicated entertainment precincts for Belconnen, Molonglo, Woden, Tuggeranong and EPIC” to minimise friction between venues and residents.

2. Fix public liability insurance so it works for the sector. “There’s no competition in the insurance market and many businesses are close to breaking point as a result.”

The Greens’ approach is to work with the Federal, State and Local governments who are working on solutions as “risk management tools which are in development, law reform and direct Government support.”

3. Create an Industry Development Officer to help artists upskill and professionalise, and source corporate work, Government contracts and grants, and work with the industry on new initiatives as songwriting workshops and peer-to-peer mentorship.

HIGHER CAPACITY FOR GOLD COAST STADIUM?

People First Stadium on the Gold Coast could increase its capacity from 27,500 to at least 35,000. The home of the Gold Coast Suns, the 14-year old team wants to double its membership to 50,000 in the next six years.

It has hosted Harry Styles, Paul McCartney, Post Malone and P!NK, with Pearl Jam set to tread the boards there on November 13.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Fiona Duncan @ Live Music Office

The Live Music Office welcomed Fiona Duncan as Program Coordinator of its Live and Local Program. She’ll work with councils, music venues and communities to provides local government with a national best practice framework for supporting the growth of grassroots live music activity through better regulation and strategic policy development.

In the past 30 years, Duncan worked in artist management (notably Spiderbait), event and tour management, publicity and industry advisory roles including as member of Music Victoria’s Women’s Advisory Panel, member of the Music Victoria Regional Working Group, the State Government Live Music Roundtable, of the Festivals Sub-Committee, and of the reference group for the Cultivate Program.

She was, until this month, seven years in arts and major events at the City of Greater Geelong.

Mouna Zaylah @ Campbelltown Arts Centre

Mouna Zaylah is the new Director of Campbelltown Arts Centre. She was its Business and Engagement Manager.

In March 2023, she was recognised for her contribution to the Western Sydney arts sector at the inaugural Women of Western Sydney Awards when she was the co-recipient of the Woman of Western Sydney (Arts) award.

Yarmila Alfonzetti @ Experience Gold Coast

Yarmila Alfonzetti is new Head of Arts and Culture for Experience Gold Coast, overseeing its flagship HOTA (Home of the Arts) – with plans already to maximising the outdoor stage with more festivals – and festivals as Bleach* and Big City Lights.

She previously held senior roles with Queensland Symphony Orchestra, State Opera South Australia, Sydney Opera House and the Perth International Arts Festival.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

Aqua Lounge and Nightclub, Noosa

Nightclub owner Ken Woods who opened Aqua Lounge and Nightclub in Noosa in November 2023 and spent $400,000 doing it up, has now put the Hastings Street place on the market. Its marketing claims it’s Noosa’s largest nightclub.

The Jazz Corner Hotel, Melbourne

The Jazz Corner Hotel, home of the Bird’s Basement jazz club and in Melbourne’s legal precinct near Flagstaff Gardens, is now in the portfolio of Minor Hotels. The name will remain.

The Silkwood Hotel, Silkwood

North Queensland’s Silkwood Hotel, in which its live music venue of the same name operates, is on the market for $835,000. The place was built in 1927 and has “incredible character.”

The General Havelock, Adelaide

Penny Hospitality’s ownership of the General Havelock on Adelaide’s Hutt Street, didn't last long. It bought the 1873 music showcasing venue in 2022 with plans to put a sparkle in the precinct. It followed up with a $1 million renovation. Now it is up for “urgent sale”.

The Beverly, Surfers Paradise

Gold Coast nightclub company Artesian Hospitality scooped up its seventh venue in the area, this time The Beverly, Surfers Paradise.

The Caville Street club was set up in 2022 as a replica of the famed Beverly Hills Hotel in La La Land by local nightclub identity Joey Lamattina and Melbourne-based Rozzis Group.

Rosemont Hotel, Adelaide

The Rosemont Hotel on Adelaide’s Hindley Street, well known for its support of live music and emerging bands with a 5am licence, is about to undergo its fourth operator in five years.

“The Rosey” was run by the Rose family for 20 years until the death in 2019 of patriarch Rod Rose at 74. It was supposed to close in February that year.

But a month later, Greg Maitland of GM Hotels Group took over the lease for 35 years and gave it a $1.5 million tart-up, with plans to invest another $2 million over the next 12 months.

But COVID saw the group sell of its other property assets, and The Rosey’s lease went to RD Jones Group. They relinquished it in February, and the venue closed. But five months later, building owner, Duke Group, is now looking for a new operator to keep it chooglin’.

HER MAJESTY’S IN HALL OF FAME

Her Majesty’s Theatre in Adelaide took its own curtain call – when it was inducted into South Australia’s Music Hall of Fame. The 1,500-capacity room is managed by Adelaide Festival Centre.

Built in 1913 and redeveloped in 2018, it’s hosted Luciano Pavarotti, Maggie Smith, Chris Isaak, Archie Roach, Alan Cumming, Barry Humphries and Paul Kelly with its ambassadors including Robyn Archer, Greta Bradman, David Campbell, Kate Ceberano, Ali McGregor, Todd McKenney, Rhonda Burchmore and Meow Meow.

MORE INNER WEST SYDNEY PUBS TO GET HERITAGE PROTECTION

Sydney’s Inner West Council has moved to put 22 more pubs on the heritage register to ensure that its inner fixings like the bar couldn’t be removed or demolished.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne stated, “In recent years, we’ve seen long-standing pubs targeted by developers for conversion to office space or residential. These heritage listings will help to send a message that if you buy a long-standing pub in the Inner West, you should be prepared to operate it as a pub.”

The proposed 22 pubs are:

3 Weeds Hotel, Rozelle
Annandale Hotel, Annandale
Carlisle Castle Hotel, Newtown
Cat & Fiddle Hotel, Balmain
Cricketers Arms Hotel, Balmain
Dick’s Hotel, Balmain
Duke of Enmore Hotel, Enmore
East Village Hotel, Balmain East
Garry Owen Hotel, Rozelle
Livingstone Hotel, Petersham
Native Rose Hotel, Rozelle
Queens Hotel, Enmore
Sackville Hotel, Rozelle
Sandringham Hotel (former), Newtown
The Balmain Hotel, Balmain
The Royal Exchange Hotel, Marrickville
The Welcome Hotel, Rozelle
Town Hall Hotel, Balmain
Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain
Vic on the Park Hotel, Marrickville
Warren View Hotel, Enmore
Websters Bar, Newtown

26 pubs are already on the local heritage list:

Ashfield Hotel, Ashfield
Bald Rock Hotel, Rozelle
Botany View Hotel, Newtown
Courthouse Hotel, Newtown
Crocodile Farm Hotel, Ashfield
Dry Dock Hotel, Balmain
General Gordon Hotel, Sydenham
Gladstone Hotel, Dulwich Hill
Golden Barley Hotel, Enmore
Huntsbury Hotel, Lewisham
London Hotel, Balmain
Nortons Irish Pub, Leichhardt
Petersham Inn, Petersham
Public House, Petersham
Riverview Hotel, Balmain
Riverview Hotel, Tempe
Royal Hotel, Leichhardt
Salisbury Hotel, Stanmore
Southern Cross Hotel, St Peters
Summer Hill Hotel, Summer Hill
Sydney Park Hotel, Newtown
Tempe Hotel, Tempe
The Henson, Marrickville
The Royal Oak, Balmain
Town and Country Hotel, St Peters
White Cockatoo Hotel, Petersham