Venues Update: Fremantle $1m hub promise, new Canberra space, Melbourne shooting speculation & more

FREMANTLE $1M HUB PROMISE

The City of Fremantle (WA) has applauded Labor’s election promise to set up a $1 million Music Hub at live music venue Fremantle Arts Centre if they romp it in at the federal elections.

Shadow minister for the arts Tony Burke, who made the announcement at the centre, said the hub would provide a state-of-the-art practice and recording space for young and emerging artists, along with ongoing funding for tuition that will connect new talent with some of Australia’s best songwriters and producers.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said establishing a Music Hub at the centre would enhance the city’s reputation as an incubator for contemporary Australian music.

“Fremantle is known around the world as a great place for enjoying and supporting live music,” he said.

“Not only do we have legendary venues like Mojos and now Freo.Social in the Old Drill Hall, we’re also famous for nurturing great talent, from rock legend Bon Scott to John Butler, Eskimo Joe, San Cisco and Tame Impala.”

Fremantle Arts Centre hosts major acts on its lawns along
Sunday Courtyard Music series over summer with upcoming dates from Amy Shark (May 3 & 4) and Billie Eilish (May 10).

CANBERRA GETS NEW JAZZ, FOLK, SPACE

Canberra gets a new music space in Woden, with the opening of the Fenway Public House on Bradley Street tomorrow (Thursday) as part of the $21 million Bradley Street Dining Precinct.

The 350-capacity Fenway (named after the famous US baseball park Fenway Park) is launching with jazz nights on Tuesdays and acoustic music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE SEEKING NEW PARTNER

The Sydney Opera House is seeking a new principal partner, following a six-year collaboration with Samsung.

Interested parties are invited to submit their interest by May 10 with a shortlist announced on May 31.

The tender stated, “After a successful six-year collaboration with Samsung, the Opera House is seeking a principal partner to help achieve its vision and mission in the lead-up to its 50th anniversary and beyond.”

BANKWEST STADIUM TO PROVIDE $176M BOOST

Patrons attending events at the 30,000-seat sports and entertainment Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta will inject $176 million in the next two years into the Western Sydney economy.

The analysis was made by the Western Sydney Business Chamber whose executive director David Borger declared its opening on Easter Monday will see a surge of new visitations to Parramatta that we have never seen before.

“This is now one the best stadiums in the country with a spectator experience unparalleled.

“The flow-on benefits from the stadium will be immense. Parramatta’s night-time economy will be supercharged.”

HELP FOR HOPGOOD THEATRE

Erin Thompson, mayor of Onkaparinga in South Australia, has written to the state government asking it to fund the Hopgood Theatre for another year while plans to secure its future are being negotiated.

SPECULATION OVER MELBOURNE NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING

Media reports suggest that Victoria Police investigations into the shooting at Melbourne’s Love Machine nightclub on the weekend are threefold.

The force is working on whether the four men who sprayed the place from a Porsche SUV had been ejected from the nightclub earlier in the night, if there was a link with a bikie gang trying to extort the club, or if there had been some rivalry within the security sector.

Security guard Aaron Khalid Osmani was killed in the random bullet spray after being shot in the face.

One of the patrons queuing outside the club at 3 am and now fighting for his life in hospital was talented Melbourne soccer player Richard Arow.

CAIRNS VENUE GETS TOURISM GONG

The Tanks Arts Centre, the performing and visual arts venue in Cairns in Far North Queensland, has been named a Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) 2019 Best of Queensland Experience with an impressive score of 95 out of a possible 100 points.

Tanks Arts Centre is a business unit of Cairns Regional Council, in the Cultural Services Branch, and draws 60,000 patrons a year.

It is situated in the Cairns Botanic Gardens precinct, 4km north of the city’s CBD, and housed in three converted World War II naval oil storage tanks, and set among a lush rainforest backdrop.

The Best of Queensland Experiences is a TEQ innovation program that guides the Queensland tourism industry to deliver exceptional customer experiences, create positive word of mouth, help attract more visitors, grow expenditure and increase market share.

Tanks scored well above the Queensland benchmark of 60 points and the Tropical North Queensland benchmark of 80 points, based on online customer reviews, consumer expectations and best industry practice.

RAD BAR CLOSING

The Rad Bar in Wollongong, NSW, announced this week it is closing in June.

Venue owner Daniel Radburn said that all tenants of the building, known as Lang’s Corner, have been told to vacate as it is being demolished to make way for a multi-storey office block.

“As soul-crushing as this news is, there is absolutely nothing we can do at this point and we encourage you all to make the most of the last couple of months here.” he said.

THE LORD GLADSTONE CHANGES HANDS

Lord Gladstone Hotel in Sydney’s inner west Chippendale has changed hands.

After a four-week campaign, it sold hands for a reported $5.5 million, according to Australian Hotelier.

The new owner is George Kazzi; who also owns the well-known Forresters Hotel in Surry Hills.

Former operator Paddy Coughlan sold to inject more cash into his other non-hospitality businesses.