Hibiki Bar and Karaoke closing, Showbar moving into venue as ‘Bar 22’

When one door closes, another opens. For this Mackay venue, the private rooms made perfect sense to repurpose for after-dark entertainment.

The Hibiki Karaoke and Whiskey Bar at 22 Gregory St in Mackay will soon close with a gentlemen's club to move in. Picture: Fergus Gregg

Less than 24 months after opening, Mackay’s first dedicated karaoke bar in the CBD is set to transform into another form of after dark entertainment.

Catriona Sawtell, the entrepreneur behind the Showbar venues in Mackay and Townsville, said she planned to shut down her adult entertainment venue on the top floor of Wilkinson’s Hotel and move into 22 Gregory St, the current home of Hibiki Bar and Karaoke.

Ms Sawtell said they were rebranding with the new business to be called Bar 22, and Showbar 140 – which has been a staple of Mackay’s nightlife for 14 years – to close.

The 650m move down the road was now just waiting on the approval of a liquor licence as well as an Adult Entertainment Permit.

“It’s going to be a gentlemen’s club but we want all people to feel welcome there, it’s very safe,” Ms Sawtell said, adding they were looking to introduce events for the more “mature” audiences once they “settled in” like male revues, drag shows, showcases, and speciality dancers.

Wilkinsons Hotel on the corner of Gregory St and Victoria St in Mackay CBD. Picture: Tony Martin / Daily Mercury

Showbar 140 first opened in 2007 following formal objections from Mackay residents and nearby catholic secondary school, St Patrick’s College.

Even the council, then known as Mackay City Council in the pre-2008 amalgamation days, lodged an objection to the club with then Councillor Kevin Casey saying it it could lead to “anti-social behaviour” in the “family-oriented” City Heart.

The nightclub, popular for its topless waitresses and pole dancers and known for its private lap shows, has outlasted many nightclubs in the city which have come and gone including ZeBar, Doors, Envy, Main Street, Platinum Lounge, Empire Alternacade and more.

Jasmine Robson’s larger than life photograph used to adorn the entrance of Wilkies Topless Sports Bar, underneath Showbar.

Many Mackay residents would remember the larger-than-life printout of former Showbar 140 manager Jasmine Robson, whose image greeted the patrons of the downstairs Wilkies Topless Sports Bar, later the home of Empire Alternacade, and now vacant.

The Wilkinson’s Hotel was built in 1938 after the demolition of the former Pioneer Hotel and is owned by Adrian and Damien Connors, who own and run the highly popular The Dispensary on Wood St.

Inside the Hibiki Karaoke and Whiskey Bar at 22 Gregory St, Mackay, which will soon be transformed into a gentlemen’s club. Photo: Zoe Devenport

Ms Sawtell said the new Bar 22 would involve making subtle changes to the soon-to-be former karaoke venue but nothing dramatic, and they were keeping the private rooms.

She added there were no plans to rename or transform the Townsville Showbar venue.

Hibiki Bar business partner Bing Guo said their karaoke venture was perhaps not gone for good. Photo: Zoe Devenport

Hibiki Bar business partner Bing Guo said while they were closing the chapter on their Asian-inspired karaoke and whiskey bar, there could be a second chapter down the track should Mackay grow a larger appetite for that style of entertainment.

The bar, formerly home to the Rice Buffet restaurant, was officially opened on February 17, 2023 with special guest Mayor Greg Williamson in attendance.

Mr Guo manages myriad Mackay region businesses including Bing’s Nomiya restaurant and Bing Cha bubble tea on Victoria St, and Bing’s Nomiya Mini in Rural View.