Venues: More Newcomers, Lawsuits, Name Changes, SA Inquiry, Noosa Woes & More

MORE PLUGGING IN

Carey Park Front Runner For Southport Stadium?

Southport Council (Qld) has kept the site of its 12,000-seat indoor stadium close to its chest. But the whisper is that in recent weeks, the 9.3ha Carey Park has leapt ahead of the outdoor Athol Paterson and two-storey Mal Burke car parks.

Its proximity to a light rail station and the Gold Coast Highway and its location opposite the $90 million Broadwater Parklands give it a lead. The music industry, as well as sports and tourism executives, are pushing for the site for the stadium, which is set to cost between $250 million and $350 million.

A planning report suggested, “The catalytic transformation of Carey Park could establish an entertainment precinct that will attract people to the Gold Coast CBD and promote connection to the Broadwater Parklands.”

Carey Park has a funky reputation due mostly to drug taking and homeless people. But its supporters argue that it can be turned into a vibrant precinct the way Fortitude Valley and New Farm also underwent transformations.

Altar Bar Launches As Live Music Temple

Hobart CDB’s Altar Bar launched firmly as a place for local and national live music. It was set up by DarkLab’s Music Director, Kimberley Galceran, Program Manager Sam Dawson, and Program Coordinator Keira Leonard.

Among those booked through October are Strings & Stories, Grim Rhythm, Cult Comedy, TAROT’s album launch, Bellakeo Fiesta, UK’s ATTRITION, Hard-Ons and Soft Signals.

Altar Boy (112 Murray Street) opens at 4 pm as a chill-out place to play pool and chess, with beer, wine and cider kept to $6.66.

New Stadium For Canberra?

If the ACT Liberals are elected in October, Canberra will get a new 30,000-seat concert and sports stadium at the Acton waterfront. 

Property Council ACT Executive Director Ashlee Berry said it would transform the city, adding, “The location at Acton Waterfront, surrounded by hotels, restaurants, and bars, could provide a home for our elite sporting teams and attract international events, concerts, and entertainment that put Canberra more firmly on the map.”

The Libs estimate their stadium’s building cost $700 million to $800 million. It is committed to starting work on it in its first term. The idea of a replacement for the aging Canberra Stadium in Bruce has been a political hot potato for years.

Work Starting On Imperial Hotel Bandroom

Look out for the band room for the Imperial Hotel in Eumundi (Qld) to arrive by March 2025. Last week, the Comiskey family, the owners, threw a party to celebrate the finishing of stage one.

That included the revamped front bar, gaming room, and TAB. Work will begin “almost immediately” on the second and final stage, which will include the bedroom. The hotel already hosts acts in its Brewery, Green Room, and The Bunker.

The Comiskeys also runs music venues such as Eatons Hill Hotel and Sandstone Point Hotel.

Her Majesty’s To Reopen

Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat, Victoria, is due to reopen in November after a $16.3 million revamp. The revamp includes state-of-the-art equipment, two new lifts, new toilets, and improved accessibility for patrons, staff, and performers.

Improvements were also made to the front-of-house area and fire protection. Opened in 1875, the theatre’s 300 shows a year include touring and local concerts, with St. Vincent and Marcia Hines on the books.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA INQUIRY INTO “LOCAL AND LIVE THRIVE!”

South Australia’s Government and Greens MLC Tammy Franks have worked together to set up the Select Committee “into local and live creative venues” to study the impact of recent closures and which will explore the impacts of recent closures and develop recommendations.

It is estimated that the state has lost 27% of its venues since COVID-19. The commission will examine whether legislation is needed to protect venues, what more venues can do to support local musicians, and why some venues that received grants are still closed.

Franks is on the Committee, along with Frank Pangallo (Ind), Reggie Martin (Lab) and Ben Hood (Lib). She said, “We need to understand why so many venues are closing, recognise their cultural and economic impact, and how we can better support our artists and creative communities. 

“These spaces are vital for nurturing creativity and culture—let’s protect them! That’s why I (pushed) for a cross-party inquiry to see ‘local and live’ thrive!

“I hope in the future that we are going to see more live music and live creative venues, those places that provide comedy or theatre—the Holden Street Theatres, for example, or the Cue Bar that has people dancing near pool tables, which has incurred the wrath of local licensing enforcement at times and seen them before the courts. 

“I hope that we see creative culture and that bricks and mortar that supports creative culture supported to flourish into the future. Post-COVID we should be building back better, and building back better means ensuring that live music and the creative scenes, and the communities such as those of Save the Cranker, are supported with that bricks and mortar.”

SHOULD NOOSA JUNCTION BECOME A SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCT?

Should Noosa Junction become a special entertainment precinct like Nambour? That seems to be the way forward, as two rival petitions do their rounds about Noosa Council's plans to allow venues to operate seven days a week until midnight to increase live gigs.

A group of residents urged others to resist, arguing that it “will be negative to residential wellbeing” and have “unintended outcomes”… “like noise pollution & nuisance,” more anti-social behaviour, and traffic noise. That petition had just over 300 signatures.

The countering petition Don’t Let The Lights Go Out In Noosa Junction has raised over 5,000 signatures.

“We hope to rally the Noosa Council and key stakeholders to support live music as a vital part of our nighttime economy and to join our collaborative approach to achieve constructive, practical solutions to protect our nightlife for those in the now and in the future.”

In the meantime, the New York Minute and Mr. Drifter pulled their live music temporarily after a crackdown on noise levels caused by liquor licensing. 

Venue operator Antony Crowther warned, “Noosa is on the verge of losing its vibrant nightlife—forever. Imagine the lights dimming, the music silenced, and the heart of our community slowly fading away.

“This isn’t just about losing a few late-night hangouts; it’s about erasing a culture, a way of life, and a beacon of joy for locals and visitors alike. If we don’t act now, Noosa will never be the same.”

Noosa isn’t the only place in Queensland where nightlife is feeling the heat. Residential grumbles began in Burleigh Heads when the Pink Monkey was allowed to trade until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays while cutting back to 11 pm midweek.

A report from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation covering 2023/4 showed that 20 venues in the Far North were put on notice because of “unreasonable noise,” with some facing greater scrutiny as a result. One venue had to spend $4,000 on an acoustic report so it could continue to host live music.

CHILLING IN THE NAME

Two Rebrands In Perth

Perth venue operator VenuesWest announced a change of names for two of its properties after health insurance company HBF ended its sponsorship with them some months ago.

From January 1, 2025, the 12,500-seat HBF Arena will revert to its original name, Arena Joondalup, while the 4,500-seat HBF Stadium in Mount Claremont will be rebranded as the Perth HPC (Perth High Performance Centre). 

HBF and VenuesWest continuing their relationship through naming rights at the HBF Park rectangular stadium.  

Central Coast Stadium Looking For Naming Partner

Stadium operator VenuesLive is searching for a naming rights partner for NSW’s Central Coast Stadium, which hosts entertainment, sports and community events.

The term is for five or ten years. The venue, based in Gosford and with a total capacity of 20,059, has been known as Industree Group Stadium since 2022.

Justin Hemmes Wins Trademark Dispute

Sydney-based nightclub and hospitality kingpin Justin Hemmes won a trademark dispute over his 24-year-old Establishment on George Street.

Last November, an Italian fine dining restaurant opened in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley with the name Establishment 203. Hemmes took it to court in February, with the Brisbane business applying to trademark its name two months later

The Federal Court told the restaurant to change its name by the end of October.

Name Issues In Tasmania

From October 1, Hobart’s Blundstone Arena reverted to Bellerive Oval after the local boot company ended its naming sponsorship of the 19,500-capacity venue after 13 years.

In the meantime, “a number of organisations” have expressed “strong interest” in naming rights for Hobart’s $715 million Macquarie Point Stadium, Stadiums Tasmania boss James Avery told the Hobart Mercury. But no formal discussions have occurred yet, he stressed.

Hunter Fujak, a lecturer in sport management at Deakin University, estimated the deal would cost between $1.5 m and $2 m annually.

BETTER EXPERIENCE AT PERTH CONCERT HALL

Perth Concert Hall will undergo a $150.3 million redevelopment next year, which will keep it closed until early 2028. The project will preserve the venue’s world-acclaimed acoustic features and architectural maintenance.

Those attending after will note updated seating, more toilets; new rehearsal spaces and improved backstage facilities; better lights and signs in the foyer; more food and drink offerings; a changed outdoor space, and “improved venue accessibility, with remodelling of the auditorium entry, lifts and stairs.”

TROPHY’S CHOICE

Among 30 categories before 600 guests at the 23rd Bartender Magazine Bar Awards in Sydney, Best Live Music Venue went to Memphis Slims House of Blues in Adelaide, and Pleasure Club of Sydney scooped Nightclub Of The Year.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Sydney creative hub and live performance space Carriageworks appointed Francisca Peña as General Manager. With 20 years of experience in the arts and known for her financial and operational skills, she is a board member of Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS), which promotes cultural diversity in the arts.

George Hatzigeorgiou has taken over bookings at the Beast in East Brunswick, Melbourne, on Lygon Street. The venue's phone number is (03) 9036 1456.

Graphic designer Jayden Barling launched the new Canberra magazine Red Ink to cover the city's live scene, musicians, and arts sector.

PASSING THE BATON

AVC Snaps Up 10 Music Venues, Nightclubs

A number of Queensland music venues and nightclubs were among the ten properties snapped up by the Australian Venue Company from Hallmark Hospitality.

The live music spaces were Brisbane’s Lefty’s Music Hall and Surfers Paradise’s Cavill Hotel and Sandbar. The nightclubs included Brisbane’s Hey Chica and Enigma.

AVC confirmed their teams would continue to run the businesses. The purchases mean AVC now has about 230 venues.

Gilligan’s For Overseas Boss?

The 2,000-capacity Gilligan’s Nightclub in Cairns is up for sale, along with its parent resort – and could possibly end up in foreign hands, according to forecasters. 

Longtime owners Adam Tilley and Simon Larcombe expect 120 million.

Semaphore Palais Remains In Public Hands

In a reverse of venues changing hands, the state-heritage Semaphore Palais Hotel in Adelaide will remain in public hands after its operators attempted to buy it and invested a lot of money in it.

The State Government called for public feedback on the local landmark. Over 1250 residents strongly voted for the 1922 beachside building to remain Crown Land.

The Government has offered the operators, the Steve Karpluk-owned Semaphore Palais Hotel Pty Ltd (SPH), a new 15-year lease to give it certainty with renewal options, allowing SPH to make significant improvements to the building to preserve its heritage values.

POISONED IVY?

One of nightclub boss Justin Hemmes’ companies, Hemmes Hermitage Pty Ltd, is suing Sydney Metro for $19 million in the NSW Land and Environment Court, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. 

It claims that the compulsory acquisition of its land for the new Hunter Street rail station will reduce the value of its Ivy nightclub next door on George Street in the CBD from $525 million to $506 million because of the loss of access rights.

The station is part of Sydney Metro’s $25 billion, 24-kilometre Metro West route.

HOW THE CARINGBUSH WENT DOWN

Just how bad can things get for a music business? The Caringbush opened in 2019 in Melbourne’s Abbotsford as part music venue, part exhibitor of local painters and part vegetarian eaterie.

It closed in June with 63 cents in its bank account, according to the Herald Sun. Since then, liquidator CJG Advisory revealed its debts were close to $1.2 million, with $411,000 owed to the Australian Taxation Office. 

CJC said reduced trading after COVID was a major reason. Between July 2019 and June 2021, The Carringbush made a profit of $384,000. However, it lost $460,000 between July 2021 and June 2023.

STANDS AND DELIVER

Add Melbourne-based Liively to the long list of Aussie tech start-ups making a global splash. Founded in March 2022 by innovator Norbert Herrmann, Liively tapped into the events market, where post-COVID, music and sports fans wanted food and beverages (F&B) and merchandising delivered to their seats. 

QR code ordering technology does it all. There's no waiting in line, no having to be in crowds, no missing out on that great guitar or drum solo, more profit for F&B and merchandise vendors, and greater efficiency for venues.

It’s been adopted by stadiums in Australia (the MCG, Marvel Stadium), Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, with expansions planned in Italy, Spain, New Zealand, and the USA.

Herrmann revealed in a recent interview the problems the company faced at its very international event, a year after launching, at a WWE wrestling event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before a crowd of 60,000.

“We had just two and a half days from landing to the event’s start. We arrived with a suitcase filled with tablets to train our vendors and had to organize 40,000 QR code stickers for the seats. 

“On the morning of the event, it was humid and over 40 degrees Celsius, causing all the stickers we had placed around the venue to fall off. 

“We urgently had to produce another batch of stickers and reattach them around the Jeddah Superdome in time for the main event. The end result was phenomenal; it worked amazingly well, securing us our seed round funding and an incredible in-region partnership that has assisted us in establishing ourselves in the GCC.”