Venues: SA Boost, Precincts, Expansion & Downsizes, Musical Chairs & More

$1.3M BOOST FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIAN VENUES

South Australian music venues got an extra $1.3 million in funding over four years this week as part of Arts SA’s new $80 million A Place To Create cultural policy.

The money was given to the Music Development Office to support existing live music initiatives.

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the 10-year policy will provide “guardrails” to guide future government investment in arts and culture.

He was speaking at its launch at Lion Arts Factory with Arts Minister Andrea Michaels.

The launch also saw the official rebranding of Arts SA to CreateSA, emphasising the focus on creativity and Adelaide’s status as a UNESCO City of Music.

APRA AMCOS congratulated the plan on being “a bold, long-term strategy that embeds arts, culture, and creativity at the heart of the state’s economic, social and community future.”

Looking at its other policies, CEO Dean Ormston said, “It recognises the entire music ecosystem, from songwriting and small venues through to major festivals and international export. Importantly, it makes a clear, confident commitment to its growth.”

CEDAR MILL PROJECT DOWNSIZES

Cedar Mills’ $235 million project in Morisset, NSW, is scaling back, developer Winarch Group told Lake Macquarie City Council.

Announced in 2022, the 90-hectare site was to feature a custom-designed dome amphitheatre, dining and leisure precincts, tourist rooms and the country’s largest aquatic play park. 

It was to bring $167 million economic benefits into the region. It would use 1,100 workers during construction and 475 afterwards.

The 30,000-seat auditorium was to host A-list superstars like Elton John, Paul McCartney and Pink, who had played at Newcastle’s 30,000-seat McDonald Jones Stadium.

Winarch will make a complete update to Council this month. But plans are still going ahead with the entertainment precinct, it said in a statement.

“While certain aspects of the original Cedar Mill Lake Macquarie vision will change, we remain steadfast in our plans to deliver the region a premier multipurpose entertainment precinct to serve as a much-needed vibrant hub for arts, culture and live entertainment.”

Unconfirmed reports are that the auditorium will now seat 10,000 and lose its shell shape.

NEW VENUE FOR FORMER CHURCH

Geelong Arts Centre, the country’s biggest regional performing arts centre, is expanding. Building has started on the Ryrie Street facility for a dedicated space for live music, comedy, theatre, dance and performance.

After years behind the former Band of Hope building, the heritage church facade dating back to 1857 was restored as part of the two-staged $180 million redevelopment of Geelong Arts Centre, backed by the Labor Government.

The project is by builders Plan Group alongside LIMINAL Architecture. The new building will be open next year, and donations to the Centre through its Church Giving Campaign will go to new audio gear and keeping rates affordable.

TEN NEW PLACES TO TOOT IT’N’BOOT IT

Deadbeat, Perth

How do you launch a new 140-capacity ‘80s and ‘90s glam metal-inspired dive bar in the Perth CBD? You get a Harley Davidson to roar in and do burn-outs before the bar. It complements the mural of the chopper on the wall.

Deadbeat (440 Murray Street) runs Wednesday to Saturday from 4 pm until midnight, with red leather sofas, booths and dark mirrorball lighting, and cans and cocktails as Snake Venom.

Operations manager Adrian Ruix’s 28 years in the industry included The Baxter Inn, Eau de Vie, Rockpool, Mona, Black Pearl and best-known, Sydney cocktail bar Bulletin Place (named in the World Top 50 five times). 

Venue Manager Benjamin Thomson’s track record includes The Beaufort, The Rechabite and Margot’s.

Plaza Hotel, Sydney

Sydney has a new Ibiza-style superclub on the first floor of the three-storeyed Plaza Hotel. Winchester Hotel Group’s Sarah and Ryan Maloney took great pains to install the sort of sound systems that would draw international DJs.

The WPL series from Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision line array range deployed 24 units in six hangs. Horn-loaded dual 12-inch drivers provide a fast response in the 80-100Hz range of dance tracks.

The basement hosts the underground vinyl bar club, also with a stunning sound, with six Martin Audio CDD 15 speakers, eight CDD 10 speakers for fill, and two SX 218 sub-bass units.

Port & Vine, Adelaide

Port Adelaide’s First Commercial Hotel on Commercial Road gets a new lease of life as the live music and dining Port & Vine. Expected to open by end of April, it is run by venue operators Samantha Hirniak, Adam Vonthethoff and Darren Pearce. 

On Air, Melbourne

On Air in Melbourne’s trendy Cremorne gets its spirit and name from the growing popularity of early morning dance parties in coffee shops such as Am Radio. There’s house music and dancefloors, but no alcohol and strobe lights.

It was set up by Francesca Poci and Deyon Murphy, who say they’re getting 50 calls a day from local residents and nearby business folk who want to play or spin the discs (through Pitt & Giblin Superwax Mini speakers) during their morning breaks or lunch hours.

The Warehouse, Townsville

The return of iconic live music venue The Warehouse in Townsville FNQ after 40 years, as already reported in TheMusic.com.au. It’s creating genuine excitement, with Spiderbait’s set at the May 2 grand opening sold out.

Tickets are selling strongly for The Presets (3), the free 12-band all-ages showcase The Loading Dock (4) and Peking Duk’s DJ set (9). Australian Venue Co spent more than $1.2 million setting it up.

Booker Tim Pellegrino told the Townsville Bulletin he has wider ambitions for the venue, to make it a crucible for local acts and be part of the state’s touring circuit and host sideshows for major festivals from down south.

“It’s actually bigger than The Warehouse. I look at it as the anchor for the region, and then I can book the peripheral venues … in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton … so that’s how we’ll end up getting more shows up here.”

Pellegrino has been in the game for 15 years and managing The Venue (ex-Bombay Rock).

Soul House Social Club, Adelaide

Live music and supporting local musicians are high on the priority for Damien Knowles, who’s operating the Soul House Social Club (opens May 3) from the vast property of the Pepper Tree as part of a community project.

Darwin City Stadium

A business case released last Thursday for the new $735 million Darwin City Stadium stated it would be essential if the Northern Territory could become the 20th AFL team. However, it made the point that the 25,000-seat venue was more than just for AFL games; it was also for international sports and concerts and could be built within the next seven to 10 years.

Australian music promoters with Asian connections have long mused about a music touring circuit that includes the NT, Northern Queensland and Southeast Asian cities.

The proposal identified nine sites for the stadium. See the full report here.

Aura, Sydney

After Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ ARQ Nightclub on Flinders Street played its final two parties in late March, bringing together crew from its 1999 opening, all eyes are now on its replacement.

The site’s new owner, businessman Dave Auld from the nearby Oxford Street nightclub Noir, will rebrand it Aura. It’s expected to open by the end of autumn, but so far, no details have been released. Its website just has a message: “A presence. A feeling. A new era.”

Gold Coast Arena

In the latest update on the new entertainment and sports Gold Coast Arena at Carey Park, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate revealed that it will cost $350 million (with the Gold Coast picking up the tab) and have seating between 12,000 and 15,000. Depending on final costs, it could have a retractable roof.

South Melbourne Town Hall

Over 50 arts, music and cultural organisations, along with local traders, are lobbying for the Victorian State Government to fund the reopening of the South Melbourne Town Hall.

It closed five years ago due to structural issues. The idea is for musicians, artists and associations to use it as a creative and performance hub, and a home for the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM).

The estimated $100 million will be shared by ANAM, the City of Port Phillip, and the state and federal governments.

HUMANITIX GETS TIKTOK FRIENDLY

Australian not-for-profit ticketing platform Humanitix, which channels all its booking fee profits into social impact, has partnered with TikTok to simplify event discovery and ticket purchases for users in Australia and NZ.

Under the new partnership, TikTok users can browse and buy tickets for Humanitix-hosted events without leaving the short-form video app. Creators can embed event links directly into their videos, allowing anyone watching to access ticket information with a single tap. The integration also tailors event suggestions based on a user’s location.

GREEN SPOONED

The Australian Greens’ $2 billion new arts policy keeps an eye on ensuring more live music venues don’t close. Its Arts Capital Works Fund will deliver $300 million “to support the creation of performing arts venues and rebuild of the arts ecosystem around the country.”

It will legislate a $250 minimum fees for musicians and live performers at publicly funded events, pilot a Living Wage for Artists program for up to 10,000 artists, and put an artist in residence in a public schools and libraries.

It will invest $2 billion in the sustainability and future of the arts over a decade, including support for festivals, live performance, youth arts and arts administration.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Kate Gould @ Adelaide Festival Centre

Kate Gould returns to Adelaide as CEO and Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival Centre in June. She most recently spent four years heading Brisbane Powerhouse, and before that was CEO of the Adelaide Festival (2002-2012) and Chair of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

Roz Pappalardo @ Tamworth Venues

Musician, events manager, and arts administrator Roz Pappalardo will head the Tamworth Regional Council’s venues, such as Capitol Theatre. 

She replaces Peter Ross who after 16.5 years, become Executive Manager of Creative Communities & Experience at the Council and will oversee Entertainment Venues and work closely with on creative projects.

Pappalardo was Head of Programming at Darwin Entertainment Centre, at Hobart’s MONA and MONA FOMA Summer Festival, and at Cairns Regional Council where she programmed for Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns Performing Arts Centre and Court House Gallery.

Brad Spolding @ Bunjil Place

Brad Spolding is the new Head of Performing Arts Programming at multi-arts venue Bunjil Place in Melbourne’s Narre Warren. He was most recently the Arts Program Director at Brisbane Powerhouse and Artistic Director and CEO of The Substation in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Mark Zundans @ Venue Management School

Mark Zundans, GM of Brisbane’s Gabba, is appointed Chair of the Venue Management School (VMS) from which he graduated in 2003. It is run by the Venue Management Association, whose CEO is Eskimo Joe’s Joel Edmondson.

SALAMANCA PLACE EXPANDS LIVE MUSIC

A 12-month pilot of trialling amplified live music in outdoor dining areas on Sunday afternoons in Hobart’s Salamanca Place was a success.

This week, Hobart Council agreed to expand it to seven days a week, excluding full bands and DJs as happened in the trial. Times will  be 4pm to 8pm on Monday-Friday, 6pm-8pm on Saturday, and midday to 8pm on Sunday. 

It also suggested that other areas of the city be looked at. A council report suggested this would “be an opportunity for the city to show its support for the live music/performing arts sector, where providing greater opportunities for paid work for artists in a professional setting is so important to their economic survival.”

ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCTS FOR WESTERN SYDNEY…

With nighttime boomwah swinging from trad hubs like Kings Cross to western Sydney, plans are to trial the next Special Entertainment Precincts (SEP) in Burwood and Fairfield by the end of 2025.

Both their councils got SEP Kickstart Grants, respectively $195,000 and $183,308 to set them up. Burwood’s will be over three blocks around Chinatown. Fairfield’s will be along Canley Vale Road, in Canley Heights and Canley Vale.

Venues will be protected as residents and future home buyers will be told they live in areas with later trading hours and higher level of sound.

Since Dec. 2023, Enmore Road in Newtown had a boost in foot traffic, business revenue, and night-time visits. 15 more councils in metro and regional NSW want to establish SEPs.

…AND TAMWORTH…

Country music capital Tamworth is getting a SEP. Tamworth Regional Council has agreed to prepare a Night-Time Economy Strategy to support employment, tourism and live music.

The SEPs will cover the Tamworth CBD as well as the Tamworth Sports and Entertainment Precinct, which includes the Longyard Hotel. 

…AND SYDNEY CBD

After a 70 per cent positive response after it called for feedback, the City of Sydney is steaming ahead with its vision for a 24-hour entertainment precinct in the CBD.

From Circular Quay to Central Station, and from Darling Harbour to Hyde Park, live entertainment spaces can open as late as 2am without any changes to their licence with council, and also be able to apply for a 24-hour licence.

EXECS HONOURED IN GLOBAL AWARDS

Two ground-breaking venue executives were recognised in Pollstar’s 2025 Women Of Live issue. Both were lauded for their pioneering work in the Australian sector, including their mentoring and promotion of female talent.

Trish McNamara, General Manager of the Brisbane Entertainment Centre since 2007, was cited for leadership which included “attention to detail, a down-to-earth approachability, a focus on experience and an impressive relationship with Stadiums Queensland, the government-run entity which owns the venue.”

The BEC’s 42 full timers and 497 part timers is 65 per cent female and 35 per cent male.

Meagan Walker, Group Director of Arena Operations at ASM Global, leads the company’s Asia Pacific (APAC) arena network. In the past year, her move to exceed audience expectations included revamping merchandise operations, updating menus to align with the demographic, introducing new chill spaces and expanded back of house for crew comfort.

Walker started 2001 at Melbourne and Olympic Parks precinct, overseeing Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena.

Pollstar attributed her rise up the ranks to “her commercial acumen, negotiating skills, developing best practice ticketing and relationships with international live music, sports and government sectors.”

ADELAIDE FESTIVAL CENTRE GETS $10M DONATION

In the largest performing arts donation ever made in South Australian history, the Adelaide Festival Centre received $10 million from arts philanthropist, Dr Pamela Wall AO.

It will go towards programming its in-house festivals DreamBIG Children’s Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Adelaide Guitar Festival and OzAsia as well as First Nations programming.

WINDS OF CHANGE

Closed In The Last Month: Enmore Country Club (Sydney), Pink Flamingo (Brisbane), Stonehouse Amaroo (Canberra).

Adrian Galindo says that his Milledge in Port Adelaide may have to close after noise complaints by a resident heads to court.

Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel is closed until summer for $100 million worth of renovations which includes an outdoor stage dedicated to bands and an upgraded audiovisual system.

Cali Beach House on Surfers Paradise which had to close temporarily after $1 million worth of destruction courtesy Cyclone Alfred, will use the renos to get new expanded sound and lighting.

Operators of Melbourne’s Myer Music Bowl announced the implementation of cloud-based venue operations and safety management platform, 24/7 Software, has enhanced operations through improved event communications, workforce management, incident responses, and guest experience.  

Reforms in Tasmania, to “bring our liquor laws into the 21st century” includes new licence categories, fee structure, considerable less red tape and quicker approvals.

The two new owners of Bunbury WA live music venue The Burlington, Fiona Hutchinson and Brendan Craig, will continue to support live acts and introduce “entertainment options”.

Melbourne live music venues, The Windsor Castle and Carlton Club which went into administration were picked up by Ganley Group.

The new owners of Old Bush Inn in SA have continued their support of live music by appointing local musician Surahn Sidhu to book bands.

The $130 million upgrade of Launceston’s UTAS Stadium includes plans for more seats to attract more music and sports fans, while Mars Stadium (also known as Eureka Stadium) in Ballarat is doubling its capacity to 10,000 for the same reason.

For Sale: Cumberland Arms in Adelaide, the former site of Geelong’s De La Ville, Tallagandra Hill winery and music north of Canberra, and the former Town & Country in Sydney’s St Peters.