Venues: New Starts, Alliances, Tech Deals, Name Changes & More

REPRIEVE FOR SUNSHINE COAST FESTIVAL SITE?

It may not be over for the Comiskey Group’s 2023 plan to build a state-of-the-art 150-hectare music festival site called Coochin Fields on the Sunshine Coast.

On April 22, the project was dealt a blow when the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) advised it did not support the proposal.

But there is a possibility the Queensland Government might step in. A call-in by Jarrod Bleijie, Minister for State Development, called it “a major tourism and economic opportunity”. It has an economic impact of  $95.1 million, with 69,500 visitors a year and creating 682 jobs.

But Bleijie also added: “However, there are significant social and environmental matters… that require consideration.” Local council noted the impact on noise, light, water quality, bushfire risk, and traffic issues.

The plan is to stage six events a year. The size of 22 football fields, it can accommodate single-stage concerts, multi-stage festivals and various other types of events outside of music like lifestyle exhibitions, such as camping and caravanning shows.

SALE SIGNS

Beach Hotel, Byron Bay

The Beach Hotel in Byron Bay, one of the most vibrant music spaces in NSW, staging 500 acts a year, has sold for $140 million. 

That makes it the second-most expensive pub in the country, after The Crossroads in Casula, Sydney, went for $160 million in 2022. Scott Didier of construction firm Johns Lyng Group bought it from Redcape Hospitality, effective July, with Coleman Management Group taking over operations.

The Agincourt, Sydney

Haymarket-based The Agincourt Hotel is now under the operation of a new investment group, which cut a price tag of $29 million to the consortium which ran it for the past 25 years. 

Little is known about the new kids. But the marketing of the sale was directed to someone who would carry on the late-hour activities of Club 871 nightclub on the first floor (the building has four floors) and The Alley in the basement.

Tumbulgum Tavern, Byron Bay

The Tumbulgum Tavern in Byron Bay, which has its own mooring dock on the Tweed and features live music Friday nights and Sunday afternoons, could be yours for between $7 million to $10 million.

Rose Hotel, Sydney

The Rose Hotel in Chippendale, well known for its live music and themed nights, is about to make a major change in 20 years, with the Kanellos family reaching retirement age. The venue on Cleveland Street has a youthful appeal, close to two universities and walking distance to the Central and Redfern stations.

HERE AND NOW GOES CROWDFUNDING

Angie O’Day, nightclub operator in Geelong, Victoria, had expected to get her latest venture, Here and Now Lounge, up and running by March. But after spending “thousands of dollars” on renovations and $4,000 on an acoustic report, her planning application was rejected by the local council because the report used “NSW terms”.

O’Day is crowdfunding for $15,000 here.

The former Queen’s Head Hotel site in Ryrie Street was previously known as The Wild West Saloon, The People’s Pub, Room 99, and Club Titanium. O’Day started leasing it last year.

NAME CHANGES

Casula Performing Arts Centre, Sydney

To reiterate Liverpool’s “status as a major player in the arts, music, drama, entertainment and culinary scenes”, Casula Performing Arts Centre is now named the Liverpool Powerhouse – Home of the Arts and Creative Industries.

Oonoonba Hotel, Townsville

As part of a $5 million tart-up, the Oonoonba Hotel has reverted to The Fairfield, the name it was known by from its opening in 1902 and 1962. The new look, including a new bar, bistro and 80-seat all-weather beer garden for live music on the weekends, is a strategy to widen the age group of patrons.

FOUR SYDNEY COUNCILS CREATE ‘VIBRANCY ALLIANCE’

After Clover Moore and the City of Sydney threw a wet blanket over holding festivals and events on its parkland, scowling about turf damage, four councils have created their own fun police.

Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown and Randwick councils have created a ‘Vibrancy Alliance’ and ready to host in their own parks festivals and celebrations rejected by City of Sydney, the Saturday Telegraph said.

Mayor of Burwood, John Faker, told the paper this year alone his precinct “close to 50,000 people to its Greek Street Fair and Lunar New Year Street Party, and thousands of people visit the Chinatown Night Market every week” and that places like Burwood Park, Henley Park, and Woodstock Park “are natural event destinations.”

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker cited Coogee Beach and Maroubra Beach as “very much open” and that “If Clover wants to deprive her residents of fun, live music and festivals, then Randwick will happily welcome them to our beautiful coastline.”

THREE TURN ON THE LIGHTS AGAIN

Flamingos On Quay, Rockhampton

Flamingos in Rockhampton, FNQ, is reopening with a focus on becoming a major live music venue in the region. Little wonder: its GM Jamie Boon runs Maroon Events with Jeremy Marou of the ARIA-winning duo Busby Marou.

It reopens once more on June 6, with Jaymon, Jake & Marshall from Australian Idol. A few weeks later, Ball Park Music play there as part of their ‘Like Love’ tour.

Flamingos was a hot-scorer in the ‘80s and ‘90s, hosting the likes of Midnight Oil, Suzi Quatro, Jimmy Barnes, and Powderfinger. At that time, it was also known for stints as The Pink Duck, Republik, and Stadium.

It was bought by Depco Drilling owner Wayne Riddell in 2011 for $1.5 million. It closed around 2017/18 except for the odd private event, and bought last year by Boon and Alex Myers.

The Paragon, NSW Blue Mountains

After being vandalised while closed for six years, The Paragon in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains could be back in action. It was once home to gypsy jazz and Edith Piaf tribute performances.

The Friends Of The Paragon Cafe group and the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Heritage Council of NSW told the current owner to clean it up before it was given heritage protection because of its architecture and cultural significance.

The Paragon was founded in 1916 by Jack (Zacharias) Theodore Simos, who migrated from the Greek island of Kythera. He died in 1976, and his wife, Mary, ran it until 1986 before passing in 2001. The business and building were sold separately in 2003.

The region draws 3 million tourists a year, and the Friends group posted on social media, “We look forward to The Paragon resuming its position as a highlight of visits to the Mountains.”

Virginia Tavern, NT

After a three-year silence, Virginia Tavern in Virginia, Northern Territory, officially relaunches on Friday, May 30, after a soft launch earlier this week, with live music sessions. 

The pub, 26km from Darwin, opened in 2005. It closed on May 1, 2022, after a dispute between the landlord and the licensee. A year later, the leasehold title was listed for $1.4 million. Current owners are DCL Hospitality’s Darren Lynch, Guy Dunn, and Andrew Case.

MINOGUE GETS HONOURED

Two Kylie Minogue shows at the AO Arena in Manchester this week as part of her Tension world tour have put her in the venue’s history books. After shifting 500,000 tickets over 33 shows, she became its Most Played Female Solo Artist.

FOUR NEW FLAMES LIGHT UP

Fort Hill Parklands, Darwin

The scenic and spacious Fort Hill Parkland in the Darwin Waterfront precinct, overlooking Darwin Harbour, makes its mainstream debut as a new stage at this year’s Darwin Festival, held August 7 to 24.

Guy Sebastian christens the outdoor venue on August 8 with Gabriella Cilmi (Sweet About Me) and Alice Springs duo The Wanted Gems. The next night has the Darwin debut of New Zealand’s L.A.B with openers, Yolŋu funksters Andrew Gurruwiwi Band from Northeast Arnhem Land and Juran.

Both gigs are via a new event-bar-entertainment partnership with Darwin-based SRO (Standing Room Only). Darwin Festival CEO James Gough said, “Delivering this opening weekend at a new location at Darwin Waterfront allows us to highlight the city’s breathtaking harbour, and showcases the Territory as a cultural destination on the national stage.”

Dakabin Hotel, Dakabin

Queensland hospitality giant Comiskey Group unveiled its 8th venue, the $35 million Dakabin Hotel, on May 21. Set on 3.75 hectares on Old Gympie Road, on Brisbane’s northside, it joins Eaton’s Hill Hotel, Sandstone Point Hotel, The Doonan on the Sunshine Coast, and Eumundi’s Imperial Hotel.

Entertainment includes live acoustic sets and DJs after dark. The 340-seat restaurant has western and eastern kitchens, Sin Bin Sports Bar has pool tables, a 40-machine gaming room, electronic darts, a kids’ arcade, and a half-court basketball floor.

According to Director Rob Comiskey, they received 5,000 bookings in 48 hours. The opening day saw bids of up to $7,000 for a punter to get the first beer, the money donated to various charities.

Quarterhouse, Melbourne

Australian Venue Company unveiled the three-storey, 1,400-capacity Quarterhouse located near Southern Cross Station to serve daily commuters, visitors, shoppers, and the music and sports crowds to and from Marvel Stadium.

Aside from events at the rooftop and the Hall, the public bar hosts most of the live entertainment, ranging from acoustic soloists to Sunset Sip DJs. Luke Bottoms is the venue manager.

The Church, Geelong Arts Centre, Geelong

Work has begun on The Church, as part of Geelong Arts Centre’s new home for local live music, comedy, theatre, dance and performance. 

Set to open in early 2026, the redeveloped church will be a dedicated space for independent and emerging artists. It will provide an intimate, artist-led venue to nurture diverse voices and regional artistic careers.

“We’ve listened to our local musicians and artists, and we know that access to affordable performance spaces is key to fostering a thriving creative scene,” said CEO & Creative Director, Rhys Holden.

WHERE’S THAT ENVELOPE…

At the Australian Hotels Association (Vic)’s awards for excellence, held at the Crown Palladium before 1,200 guests, Whalers Hotel in Warrnambool took Best Live Entertainment Venue. It steadily features live entertainment in its bandroom and front bar, and DJs at the upstairs ONDO nightclub.

Among other venues that showcase live music, Bill Perry of London Tavern was lauded for inspiring the industry, while Morgan Hampstead of Sawyers Arms in Newtown, Geelong, won the Venue Manager gong.

OUCH!

The Kingston Hotel in Richmond, Melbourne, one of the great live rooms in the ‘70s, ran into problems with COVID and closed in late April. The Australian Tax Office started wind-up efforts but went into voluntary administration with a second creditors’ meeting in July.

The Saturday concert was in full swing at The Boatrowers Hotel in Stockton, NSW, when a 30-year-old, allegedly carrying weapons, threatened patrons and stabbed one. Drinkers held the man down until the blueys arrived.

A 23-year-old woman was charged with biting a Civic, Canberra, nightclub security guard after she and her male partner were refused entry at about 1.15 am.

MD Hotel Group Pty Ltd, owner of The Inn Hotel in Geelong, Victoria, was placed into external administration with Worrells due to debts, including $66,000 in electricity and gas bills, and the Australian Taxation Office.

MOVES

Melbourne is about to farewell prominent venue operators Monika and Camillo Ippoliti. They used to run Toff In Town, Revolver on Chapel and Inflation, and are apparently moving to Byron Bay. They recently sold their CBD office and home for $4.55 million, over $400,000 expected price when eleven parties made bids.

PLAQUES FOR LOST VENUES

Two live music fans from Stoke-on-Trent in England have started placing blue plaques on buildings that once housed nightclubs and venues that helped launch local acts, as well as future major acts such as David Bowie and Led Zeppelin. The plaques cost them £35 (AU$73). Such dedications were until recently only permissible in London, said Historic England.

FALLS SITE SELLS

The original site of Falls Festival, in Lorne in Victoria, was bought for $2.5 million by a buyer from NSW. The 68ha farm, which hosted the event from 1993 to 2018, could house up to 15,000 patrons. There were 20 visits and seven written applications, including one from Malaysia. The site has buildings and the original stage.

PUBS LAUDED FOR LGBTQIA+ HISTORY

Two Abbotsford pubs, The Laird and Star Hotel, were among three locations in inner-city Melbourne given heritage protection by the City of Yarra for their welcoming and support of the LGBTQIA+ community past and present. The third was community radio 3CR in Fitzroy. 

A study by the City, in partnership with Queer Ways, identified 91 locations. Some of the high-profile queer clubs, such as The Peel, Glasshouse Hotel, and DT’s, have already received heritage listings for historical and architectural reasons.

The study also noted that many of these pubs are concentrated on Gertrude, Brunswick, Smith, Peel, Gipps, Hoddle, and Wellington Streets and suggested they make up a gay culture precinct.

OVATION/TICKETEK TO HELP INNOVATION

CAST (Centre for Arts, Sports and Technology) has welcomed Ovation/Ticketek as a First Buyer Member to support future entertainment innovation. Ovation is a division of Ticketek that delivers world-class, data-led marketing and technology solutions for the live entertainment and sports industries.

Through CAST, Ovation will start to engage with a pipeline of startups and scaleups building technology within the entertainment sector to enhance the fan experience and improve behind-the-scenes operations across venues, festivals, live events, and more.

“Innovation is increasingly collaborative, and CAST is a vitally important gateway to discovering and embedding new technology partnerships,” says Andrew Reid, General Manager of Ovation/Ticketek. “We’re excited to play a role in helping shape what’s next for live entertainment.”

By joining CAST, Ovation has committed to trialling or adopting at least one new piece of technology each year—helping solve real-world challenges and enabling innovation to be embedded directly into live entertainment environments.