Ipswich sex club’s application for appropriate licence years after opening

A premier sex club, where people go to fulfil a range of sexual desires, has operated without the appropriate venue licensing since its opening, it has been revealed.

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A raunchy “adult lifestyle” club in a bustling Ipswich street has been operating without the appropriate licence for more than a year, it has been revealed.

Club 86 on Brisbane St markets itself as the “classiest adult lifestyle venue in Queensland”, and is considered an entertainment venue, however the property was previously only licensed for general business use.

It has received several show cause notices from the Ipswich City Council after it was discovered the club was operating without the appropriate licensing.

The “entertainment” occurring in the membership-only space ranges from group sex activities, fetish play, exhibitionism and voyeurism and anything and everything in between.

“Our adult lifestyle venue provides you opportunities to socialise with open like-minded people of all sexualities and genders, wishing to explore their most intimate desires and fantasies,” the Club 86 website said.

“For example: role-playing, fetish apparel wear, fantasy apparel wear, spanking, bondage, massage, wax play, BDSM, polyamorous play, swinging play, exhibitionism, voyeurism, etc.”

Additionally, the venue plays host to many themed events such as swingers nights, newbie ‘games’ nights, and costume parties and also sponsored Queensland’s first-ever outdoor sex festival, Sexfest, in September 2022.

One of the lounge spaces at Ipswich sex club, Club 86. Picture: Ipswich City Council/Development i

The owners of the building and the operator of the venue, Tony Creenaune, were first issued a show cause notice in 2021, just three months after the club’s opening.

“Council first issued a show cause notice in August 2021, then an updated show cause notice in November 2022 in relation to a possible development offence,” an Ipswich City Council spokesperson said.

The council then received a formal application for the material change of use of the property to an indoor entertainment — club in December 2022.

The premises at Lot 10/86 Brisbane St is nestled between popular coffee spot, Strictly Coffee and a Free Choice Tobacconists and was formerly home to Jon Kent Lawyers and Rose and Jensen Solicitors.

Ipswich sex club, Club 86. Picture: Ipswich City Council/Development i

In the development application, Mr Creenaune detailed that between the late operating hours of his business and the diminished activity in the CBD during this time, as well as precautions put in place by the business, Club 86 should be granted the appropriate licence as an entertainment venue.

“Music is played but not at a disco noise level where it is intrusive to other premises. In-fact during the operation music is barely audible on the street. There are no sensitive business operating in the vicinity. A high standard of dress presentation is required to enter and leave the club from a public place,” the application read.

Entrance to Ipswich sex club, Club 86. Picture: Ipswich City Council

Earlier this month, Mr Creenaune was issued with a further notice after failing to pay the application fee and failing to submit appropriate owner consent supporting documentation regarding the car park.

Mr Creenaune was required to submit the aforementioned information within 20 days of the notice, or his application would be revoked.

“The lodging of the development application is considered to be a sufficient response to the notice and means that any enforcement action is put on hold, pending the outcome of council considering the development application,” the council spokesperson said.