Mayor To Push Annandale Owner Towards Music

The Annandale Hotel looks set to be sold to a publican in the very near future, and Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne is determined to convince the potential owner that live music has a future at the iconic Sydney inner-west venue.

The Annandale Hotel saga exploded yesterday, with theMusic.com.au breaking the news that the venue was likely to be sold to a publican – not a housing developer as reported elsewhere. Speaking to theMusic and then issuing a statement today, the Mayor declared the hotel “saved”.

Speaking to theMusic at the Annandale Hotel today Byrne said that even though live music was not yet assured, the importance of the venue being sold to a publican could not be underestimated.

A number of music industry parties had inspected the venue with agent Frank Knight, but it is not clear if one of individuals or companies is behind the bid expected to be approved.

“I understand that a number of the prospective buyers of the hotel where people who already have a foothold in the music industry of Sydney,” Byrne said, “and whether the publican is one of those who is the successful bidder we'll discover in the very near future.”

If the buyer intends to run the venue without live music, Byrne aims to present a powerful case for them to implement it with overwhelming incentives.

“We're sending a message loud and clear through our campaign to transform Parramatta Road into a live music district that we welcome performance venues here. But more importantly once this plan is put into legislation there will be irresistible financial incentives for licensees, publicans and entrepreneurs to open live music and performance venues here.”

Since Leichhardt Council agreed to look into the possibility of a live music precinct for Parramatta Road, which was then supported by Marrickville Council, Byrne has also had dialogue with Sydney City Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who he says is “an open advocate of reviving Sydney's live music industry”.

Yesterday he received a letter from Brad Hazzard, New South Wales' Minister For Planning and Infrastructure, who offered his support and wants to assess a joint proposal from the Leichhardt, Marrickville and Sydney City councils.

Comment has been sought by theMusic from the minister.

“I intend to use the momentum of today's victory to accelerate the process of rezoning Parramatta Road and I'm more determined than ever to put new legislation in place this year,” Byrne said today.

“I've met with all the live music licensees in this strip and in throughout my local area, and they are enthused that there is finally a council that wants to fight along side them to bring the industry back to life.

"But they know there's a long way to go and they're willing to fight alongside us to get a new planning regime in place which would promote rather than prosecute live music and performance venues, and then to actually bring the vision to life."To make this place a destination where entrepreneurs want to come to invest their money in the city of Sydney and there world want to spend their time.”