This was around 1960. Clip ref. The most famous clubs in this era, 1980s-2000s, included Club Fac 51 Haidenda in Manchester, England (in a former warehouse that was redesigned by . You had to walk down a set of stairs to get to it. How Australian dining began to shift in the 1960s Despite harrassment from governments and intimidation from other Sydneysiders, Chinese immigrants continued to come and to stay throughout the 19th century, until the relaxation of racist laws in the mid-20th century. The Carousel Club was purpose built by underworld figure Abe Saffron to house the show. Just behind the delightfully daggy glamour of Darling Harbour is the neon-tinged, two-floor dance arena . Helen. Sydney's best retro dancefloors. Annandale Hotel (Annandale) There was also a pub, I cant remember the name, used to have a sunday arv session with a DJ and a band, eastern end of the city. Ivan Repin (Repin's), and Teresa and Reg Cahill (Cahills) had introduced the coffee shop to Sydney in the 1930s, but in the '60s Australia . Real Sydney intelligentsia punk. Allkins succumbed to the. George Freeman was a bookmaker who was involved in organised crime in Sydney during the 70s and 80s. easy way tea has replaced the music and cafe culture we had (actual cafes not the corporate cafeterias they call cafes now).. sad. First Floor (Fitzroy) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. The foyer contains a sculpture by Raymond Hoff and the whole was considered one of the finest Art Deco style funerary spaces in Sydney. Sydney was home to some iconic nightclubs during the 50s and 60s and showbiz stallwart John Burls remembers them all. Because the ceiling was so low we couldnt put in any decent (for 1989 anyway) lighting. Rhythm Zone Wednesday nights at Rumours on Adelaide St. Food and drink Goros Step inside the wonderful world of GOROS, your favourite late-night venue in Surry Hills. The DJs churns through all the pop hits at warp speed. The bodgie movement was a feature of street life in Sydney in the post-war period. Macs 409 Club was definitely in the early 80s not 90s. Empire Hotel (Annandale) I started and owned the Dancebar nightclub. I went there many times; it was my favourite hangout. The joint then sought to look after its patrons by creating a room with relaxed vibes and a cooler temperature stickered with information regarding the effects of drug use. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. CHEQUERS (also RAGS 1979) Goulburn Street Sydney. Rest and Recuperation. The entire block as it stood is gone now, but for a brief period in 1978 Blondie's was somehow one of _the_ punk/new wave places. The structure of the historical GIS allows maps to be generated on live music distribution in different cities and timeframes, as well as enabling summaries of the number of different bands, or calculation of the distance between venues and gigs. Couldnt wait to legitimately go into Sibils 25 and over downstairs. Sydney nightclubs - Nightlife, clubs, bars & more | Sydney.com Notes. opened Primitif Junior, up the stairs. Timings: Wednesday-Saturday 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM. How time flys, How about the bar that was under Stefans? Hotel Colmslie, Cnr Wynnum & Junction Rds, 33 Turbot Street (opp. How much: FreeHot tip: Security is very strict about closed-toe shoes. It later moved to Adelaide Street, in the National Hotel, but was never in Brunswick Street. Gee how you did you miss Cloudland off the list. Advertisements for Phoenician Club (closed 1998) and Phantom Records store (also closed 1998), On The Street, Sydney, August 1991. Early house/techno. ', Meet the 'Queen of the Cross': Carlotta - an iconic drag queen who became one of the country's most famous transgender women - dolls herself up for a show under bright dressing room lights. Atmosphere: Nightlife for Party Freaks and Local Legends. In 1986 Morticias was also at the Canberra Hotel before it got demolished. Does anyone else remember this club and its whereabouts. Home the Venue in Darling Harbour is Sydney's original superclub. having a stall there. Dancer at Chequers nightclub in the 1950s and a witness in the trial of Shirley Beiger for the murder of Arthur Griffith. Needless to say this area became a haven for gurners who would reportedly use it as a picnic ground. I note youve only listed Morticias as being at the Hacienda. We would go to The Basement or The Windsor Hotel in the CBD, Lord Nelson at the Rocks, The Rest Hotel Milsons Point, Selinas Coogee. Sydney's best known illegal casino, sly-grog nightclub and cocaine den during the 1930s. In the clubs of the 1980s and 1990s there was no such thing as excess - ABC im talking late 80s, very early 90s. Nightclub in Surry Hills established by the American Red Cross during World War II, exclusively open to those of African or Aboriginal cultural background. We were resident band on Channel Nine for about 6 months that was the TV version of the Coca Cola Hi-Fi Club According to a publication produced by Buring, titled 'Amusings of the Ye Olde Crusty', it notes: In an earlier and out-of-print edition of the "A-Musings, Ye Olde Crusty was described as a Wine CellarIt is more than such words could convey. They had different themes for different nights girls night, boys night, mixed night..and the music was to die for, all cool and funky. Used to search the papers to decide which live bands to see in Sydney. Waiter at Chequers nightclub who lived in Kellett Street, Kings Cross in the 1950s. By the 1950s it was neglected but in the 1970s the arcade was refurbished, and has since been restored after fire damage. BF590.Peo. Thanku Karinda. If you wanted a gig there, you auditioned by playing there for one set, early in the night. THE NAKED CITY - REMEMBERING RHUBARBS - City Hub Sydney | Your Local TCs, Uncles, checkers, pips and the last night club at 74 Elizabeth st was Swizzles with turned in to a strip club owner Brian little and manager Johnny Bell.. Hi. Sydney. Saturday shoppers would wander past with mouths hanging open at the intensity of the music. Prince of Wales (St Kilda) However its life would eventually come to close as it became embroiled in a gang war. Cinema on the corner of Darlinghurst Road and Victoria Streets at Kings Cross that opened in April 1916. Metro (City) Categories: 1970s, unknown descriptor (21998). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My intererst was piqued. Culture of Sydney - Wikipedia Nightclub in Kings Cross which featured 'drag' acts. Most notably infamous for the death of a 22 year old punter in 1999 the place believed to be an adverse reaction to drugs. Sydney was at one stage a leading nightlife destination and as such we fostered some of the best musical talent in a plethora of clubs around the city. Among the map data are some venue names from the past which may be familiar or surprising to readers, depending on the time frame in which they went out the most. Bars. Average distance between gigs: 308m I both worked and played in the Valley and later in the City. Despite its short lifetime, the venue is crucial to the musical history of Australia. Meanwhile, the average distance between gigs shrinks considerably: 336m, 189m, 85m. Great nights outsmoke machine and strobe light was all it needed. Canadian bandleader who settled in Potts Point and became a prominent and flamboyant nightclub owner. Basement (Circular Quay), Gigs listed in one week: 469 Nightclub in a former car showroom on Elizabeth Street in the city in the 1960s. I spent many nights there too, but I cant remember what it was called! Despite being accused of murder, assault, race-fixing, bribery, illegal gambling and narcotics. trying to remember it! If you like your daytime disco smoothly descending into late-night . The starting point for discussion is a set of maps and figures derived from gig listings in Melbourne and Sydney in three respective sample years, forming a necessarily brief but novel forest through the trees perspective on long-range change. Correction It was called Starz. These remarkable black-and-white pictures show Sydney's notorious Kings Cross red light district in its heyday - a heaving hotspot of glamour, grime and good times. Chef Dave Evans told the Daily Telegraph people were 'voting with their feet' and going to different parts of Sydney after the laws, Lasting icon: The El Alamein Memorial fountain - a memorial to the soldiers who passed in World War II - stands as a lasting reminder of the link Australian and American servicemen have had with Kings Cross. ), 5 iconic Sydney nightclubs that no longer exist. )to burn off a lot of excess alcohol. he fact it is very different is what draws people to it. MILESAGO - Venues - Sydney - Chequers Soap enthusiast who has amassed more than 2,000 bars of soaps is Some of the info you have needs correction. Those were the days. Nightclub established by Chinese entrepreneurs Denis and Keith Wong which attracted a colourful and often notorious clientele to its original basement location in The Strand Arcade in the 1950s. It was a great spot and should be included in your wonderful list. Sydney Tourism Sydney Hotels . Spectrum (Darlinghurst) Does anyone recall this venue? Bowlers Club of NSW (City) Two clubs I used to go to in the late 1980s that arent on this list are: The Stardust Club which was located in the old Atcherley Hotel, Petrie Bight and The Speakeasy which was located in Albert Street somewhere between Mary and Alice Streets. What was the name of the nightclub next to or down from the transformers nightclub. Another monthly suburban gem, this packed disco night in Ashfield includes light-up dancefloor a la. I also remember a goth / punk niteclub called Hades, that I am pretty certain operated upstairs at the Treasury Hotel. Hi! R&R in Sydney | My Vietnam Experience Chinese businessman who first arrived as a student in 1938 and who, with his brother, Denis, established a highly successful nightclub business. . Had been called Caesars Palace previously. on the Internet. Further, at each sample, Fitzroy, the CBD, and St Kilda (read: The Esplanade) made up an increasingly large proportion of the live music listings. treet haven is one of Sydneys oldest gay clubs and, if you can get in, a paradise of pop bangers from the past and present. From the Kinolibrary Archive Film collections. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Thanks Did they wear a Velcro suit and also thrown against a Velcro wall? One of those near the junction of George & Roma streets was called Sensoria. I never took him up on his offer. Nightclub in Sylvania Waters which featured drag shows. The first gig for the new partnership was New Years Eve 1984 and I had 7 days to organise and promote it turned out pretty successful too!! I used to DJ with Darren on Tuesday nights. CHEQUERS: Location: Gouldburn St, Sydney. That's cool! Post information only relevant to the subject heading. 1978 to 1981. Soup Plus (City) You left out Apples Disco at The National Hotel. And one boofy-haired fellow (centre) had no qualms about wearing his swimming togs and sandals into the district to have a chat with a man in a suit and a cigar chomping acquaintance, The photos aimed to show the 'surface glitter and underground guts' of the city's inner east, in what historian Judith Dunn said was a time of 'hustle, bustle, excitement and activity' for the Cross, Ms Dunn said then, like now, the Cross has always been a magnet for people looking for something a 'little bit naughty' and unique, Rosaleen Norton, dubbed The Witch of Kings Cross, holds a skull as she sits at a table with Alpine cigarettes and a glass of wine, 'A thrill a minute!' It was run by John Harrigan, the manager of Surf City and other venues. Chequers nightclub in Goulburn Street may now be a Chinese reflexology clinic and massage centre, but the sign remains at the top of the stairs that once led down to Sydney's most successful nightclub of the 1950s and '60s. Carrying a change of clothes, a record and a suitcase distinctive of the era, she may have been a performer who starred in one of the popular midnight shows, Rest, relaxation and perhaps, a little romance: U.S. servicemen made Kings Cross their playground while enjoying time in lieu from the horrors of Vietnam. Thanks for commenting, and yes its amazing to remember how much more separate the Australian cities would have seemed in the 1970s and 1980s; they still are (and more so with the borders closed! Carlotta was one of the original cast members of the Cross's Les Girls cabaret show. Royal Derby Hotel (Fitzroy) Sydney was home to some iconic nightclubs during the 50s and 60s and showbiz stallwart John Burls remembers them all. Stephanie Weaver, 78, from Littleover, Derby, started collecting soap in the 1970s, but recently decided to sell her collection, which counts more than 2,000 bars. In addition, a variety of contemporary accounts point to a negative feeling in Sydney live music in the 1990s, depicting the city as a tough place to get a gig or find a friend (Ausmusic 1993; Carroll & Connell 2000; Casimir 1990; Holmes 1993; Homan 2000; Johnson & Homan 2003). They used to do free tequila throwbacks at the bar on busy nights. p.p.s.One of the most successful clubs from 1976-1982 was the Mayne Sporting Club. As well as that,the Homestead was very big from the early 70s.One of the early resident bands was a group called The Clefswho were there for almost 2.5 years.The venue also had an aray of overseas stars at the time including Helen Shapiro,Louis Armstrong,Edward Woodward(a great baritone singer)as well as actor and others too numerous to mention.The Homestead at Zillmere was originally set up by a consortium of tennis professionals. It was pulled down years ago, but for a good period in the mid - late 1970's The Bondi Lifesaver was Sydney's most renowned rock joint. It was thesecond venue opened by entrepreneur, Ivy Richter. PARIS THEATRE Liverpool St Opposite Hyde Park. It was November 1970, almost eight months, since I first set foot in Vietnam. What they do point towards is spatially tempered expansion. Nightclub owner played host to superstars - The Sydney Morning Herald It go. Resident band was Sebastian Wood in which I was the keyboard player. Club List This is a work is progress, and is certainly not complete.. We are currently working on an online database with much more information. You can read more about that whole situation here! The rise and fall of Kings Cross nightlife - Yahoo! Historian Ms Dunn speaks of some of the 'wonderful' strip venues which existed at the time, including Abe Saffron's Carousel Club and Venus Room, the Pink Pussy Cat and Crazy Horse, Pictured here dressed to the nines in 1971, Dorothy Dunckley - known as the 'Auntie Mame' of Kings Cross - ran the make-up department at the now defunct Minerva Theatre. Site and contents 1997-2021 Cordite Publishing Inc. unless otherwise stated. In these particular maps the larger symbols represent venues with more individual gigs in the respective time frames, found in either the Rock, Jazz or Folk sections of the relevant publications. I remember walking from there to Sybils too. They used to sell rum and coke that had no alcohol in it essence of rum of something. 2.0K members Join group About Discussion More About Discussion About this group Rules on joining this group are fairly simple and straightforward. Beppi died this year, aged 90, but his restaurant lives on. INSANE. Fist pump along to high octane Greek club hits and retro classics in the euphoric strobe lights. Shirley Beiger. Brilliant Vietnamese restaurant next door. Thus, the negative reports of Sydneys live music in the 1990s are related less to overall numbers of venues or gigs, than to lack of spatial consolidation the feature which, for better and worse, characterised the survival of Melbourne live music through the same decade. Renowned as alleged mob bossJohn Ibrahimsbig foray into the dodgy dealings. Band/Performer count: 324, Sydney, 1994, most listed venues: After some time it was re-named UNCLES. Ms Dunn said then, like now, the Cross has always been a magnet for people looking for something a 'little bit naughty' and unique. I saw a band called The Last Words there in 1978, and a whole bunch of name Sydney new music bands played there around that time. Darling Harbour. There was a Stomp Pit in the corner of the floor and a bar where you could gt rum and coke which was just a sort of rum essence. Lost Perth. Transgender Australian cabaret performer and entertainer who became the most famous member of the Les Girls show, in Sydney's Kings Cross. In these samples the spatial variation of gigs (represented in the Average distance between gigs figure, and in the visual clustering in the maps) declines over time, while the number of performers increases. It was located in Goulburn St, Sydney, between Pitt and George St ,close to both the Mandarin Club and to the notorious Goulburn Club, one of the major illegal casinos of the period. Nearby, Candelaria is a quirky addition to the Sydney nightlife scene - a Latin club doing salsa, reggaeton and bachata beats, as well as delicious margaritas. Uploaded by now Sydney is a crowded boring place and its impossible to get around. Find more fab sticky carpet groove sessions. Harbourside Brasserie (Walsh Bay) Bustling Haymarket, between Central Station and Darling Harbour, is the home of Sydney's Chinatown, which is Australia's biggest. 17 Best Nightclubs in Sydney to Get on the Dance Floor - Time Out Sydney on June 4, 2019. This made it popular with the ladies and beefed up athletes who were all probably on blow. My team, Roy Merrin, Lenny The Giant and I won the Ashes created by incinerating seven copies of snow white and the seven dwarves. It was pulled down years ago, but for a good period in the mid - late 1970's The Bondi Lifesaver was Sydney's most renowned rock joint. I remember a chap called Robin Oxland was in charge of the Australian side of things. I think the red parrot was a hamburger place in Elizabeth st ?? Sammy Lee's Pigalle nightclub, Sydney, 26 October 1960 (SLNSW) Sammy Lee's Pigalle nightclub, Sydney, 26 October 1960 (SLNSW) Pink Pussycat, Sydney, 1967 (SLNSW) Stripper at the George Hotel, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, ca. The nights began at 7.00pm and finished at 11.00pm. 10 Vivacious Clubs In Sydney To Beat The Night In Fun And Dance There seems to be a great deal of alcohol-relatedviolence today.At the Mayne Sporting Club between 1976-1982 we saw none. Later, after The Manhattan closed, we started going to the underground and kokoz, wall st and transformers with a little bit of Mary street thrown in for good measure! The Junction is one of the hottest nightclubs in Sydney hosting live gigs and art exhibitions. This isnt actually inconsistent with recent positive reports of the aggregate strength of Melbournes live music scene (Boulton 2013; Music Victoria 2012), nor with reports of its live music venues being under threat (Doman 2014; Levin 2010b). Their website states: The sixties brought the Valley, always a shopping mecca, into the wilder years. Although newly launched, this club has taken no time in being an exceptional addition to Sydney's nightlife. This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code). Just reading the names invokes many, many memories for me. Sydney Australia was my choice. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Fascinating stuff for an old dude who remembers all these Sydney places not Melbourne, remembering that in the 70s and 80s for a Sydney person going to Victoria was like travelling to a foreign country Australia was not yet homogenised like it is now, At high school I remember getting the free music papers and marvelling at how many bands were playing every night of the week, Yes, nostalgic but an observation the male punters in those days were often very drunk and aggressive and quite unpleasant to women not always a comfortable environment now young people (and us old folk who get out on our zimmer frames to see the odd band) are much more chilled and respectful, which is a good thing, Pingback: The iconic Melbourne live music venues we dearly miss from the last 30 years - Beat Magazine, Hi A Saffron was born in Sydney in 1919. I had a marketing company working in club promotions at the time and was approached by Robin Oxland to assist with the marketing of The Manhatten. Strut your stuff to Earth, Wind, and Fire while a hype man shouts encouragement from the stage. Yes i do i worked at hollywoods elizabeth street just down from.it, Hi Pauline A dark rumpus room of swirling disco tunes colliding with Adele remixes, the dancefloor here is thumping to a soundtrack of top notch Priscilla anthems that dont take a breath. It hosted Sydney Hellfireas well as drag shows, trivia nights and events for all communities. United States servicemen on a twelve-month tour of duty were given seven days R & R outside Vietnam. Sign up and we'll keep you updated weekly with fresh new content (no spam, we promise! Strut your stuff to Earth, Wind, and Fire while a hype man shouts encouragement from the stage. I'd been to a pub or two & seen some bands but this was like, at least in my Read more The Manzil Room - Springfields The shop was known as The Curry Shop but it was actually a coffee lounge. A renowned and ritzy nightclub hosting performers like Shirley Bassey in the 1960s, by the early 70s it was one of Sydney's most well known rock venues by reputation alone. In the Strand Arcade.. Best new wave, alternative & punk music : late 70s- early 80s.. What about Stars A transvestite bar, upstairs on Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley I waitressed in Tonys Downunder early 1990s and I clearly remember visiting Stars a number of times. Not sure if its the same place you are thinking of, but The Brisbane Tavern was on the corner of Adelaide and Wharf street in the city. Here you are certainly safe from judgement, swaddled by super-sloshed hens parties and able to indulge in a spot of the nutbush, or exercise your interpretive moves to the chorus of Madonnas Like a Prayer. Photograph: Supplied. I took part in the World Dwarf-Throwing series in the Manhatten club Brisbane in November 1986. You wouldn't know it by looking at this dull, vacant street scene - but this is the building that's probably housed more music sights and sounds than any other in Sydney. Great list! I would like information about 1990:nightclub Crash and Burn.owner,years opened and bands.is Bulldozer.? Cant say it could pass as entertainment now. Central Club Hotel (Richmond) Kings Cross nightclub which featured 'drag' acts. The maps and figures presented here do not indicate any long-term decline in the number of live music performances (gigs), nor in the number of bands, between the early 1980s in either Melbourne or Sydney. Some of the early acts Abe Yasse had in the 1970s included a local teenager called Kerry Ann Kennelly, Hi, can anybody remember what street the Brisbane Hotel was on? Remember seeing Tony Worsley there many times in the mid 60s. towards the end of 1964 (hence the name) in the Valley therefore I assume it opened that year, so why have you listed it in 1950s decade? ), but it can be much easier to forget this with quick internet or mobile phone communication instead of expensive and sporadic long distance phone calls, and I suspect that the types of jobs and houses you might find in each city are more similar. Nearly every person in Brisbane from the 40s 50s 60s hi there, great website, and certainly stirs up somr memories for me. Australia's 20 Most Notorious Gangsters - BuzzFeed Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. It was sponsored by the People Magazine. We get it :)You can support us by sharing this story or following us on Facebook. I don't know for exactly how long the Hordern has been a venue for international touring bands (and Australian supports) especially but I saw Yes here in March 1973 and The Flaming Lips were on a couple of weeks back (July 2009). The comments below have been moderated in advance. Toby was asked to open a club upstairs of the Roxy by one of the owners (R.Chan), so he sent his friend Patch there to set it up. Still there, and abbreviated to just The Rose, though I'm sure few who imbibe there now would be aware that it once boasted appearances by The Thought Criminals and alumni. Big changes are afoot for the historical district. Hi Grant, Stripping in the 1960s: theatre, television and clubs A Guided Tour of Sydney 1970's Music Venues. Richter described the venue: it was $2 to go in. Historian Judith Dunn told Daily Mail Australia: 'Overpaid, oversexed and over here - that was the little mantra about the American servicemen'. I remember there was a large room with a pool table or maybe a few pool tables and the bands played in an adjoining room. Often, they would roar with laughter at the comedy and cabaret shows, the most prominent of which was the Les Girls troupe, which starred the iconic transgender drag queen, Carlotta. Then came espresso coffee and eating breakfast in a caf. Great night and that grew into Sensoria eventually . Much of this occurred during the 1990s, though it wasnt so obvious at the time and there were plenty of other interesting things happening, often within stumbling distance of ones affordable inner-city rental accommodation. after Patchs closed. Peninsula Lounge (Moorooduc) It was written up as The Regatta of the alternative scene because it was so crowded. The Clefs were the resident band for all this time,and Sunday nights usually hosted no less than 600 and usually 700 people. I remember a top-notch vocalist that sang with the Clefs at Mayne. Meanwhile, Jools, which had been opened in 1973 by the NSW premier, Robert Askin, attracted such international acts as the Supremes, Sherbert, Danny La Rue, Eartha Kitt, Johnny Mathis, Marcia Hines, Carlotta, Skyhooks and the Village People. [3] The Sydney Symphony is internationally renowned and regularly performs in the Concert Hall (2,600 seats) of the Sydney Opera House under Chief Conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy (until 2013) and, as of 2014, David Robertson. How much: $20Hot tip: Free entry if you arrive dressed to the weeks theme. By the late 1990s even the unofficial home-town booster band, The Whitlams, was singing (sadly) about their hometown more than in it. Empress Hotel (Fitzroy North) Historically, its an important spot as it was the virtual birthplace of the Purple Hearts, a band which had as lead guitarist a pimply youth later known as Lobby Lloyd. It looks like you're using an ad blocker. created and designed by Sam Fallows, which are all named after circa 1970s James Bond birds. For the times you just want to sing YMCA at the top of your lungs or drop down and get your eagle on, head to these dancefloors that specialise in guilty pleasure old-school hits.