New owners reveal The Station plans on Birtinya’s NightQuarter site

The husband and wife team reviving a huge Sunshine Coast venue has revealed plans for a family-friendly hub and what you will and won’t see when it reopens next year.

The new owners of a popular Sunshine Coast venue that closed down suddenly last year have revealed their plans to overhaul the site along with an innovative way of transporting people.

They have also vowed to turn the site into a “family-friendly” venue with no alcohol sponsorship.

Husband and wife team Chris and Lauren Hignett, of Birtinya retail outlet Scooter and Skate and Alley-Oops Indoor Skatepark, will turn the former NightQuarter into The Station.

The entertainment hub closed suddenly in November 2022, as its parent company Food Focus Australia Pty Ltd went into administration with insolvency firm SV Partners appointed as administrator.

The couple plans to transform the 6400sq m site into a six-day, family friendly, all-inclusive entertainment precinct.

The new owners on the Sunshine Coast venue The Station Chris and Lauren Hignett. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Hignett said he and his wife were “thrilled” with the opportunity.

They have also applied to increase capacity from 1200 people per night to 1200 in the covered live music venue and up to 1000 customers at the food markets.

The former NightQuarter venue in Birtinya will get a new lease of life as The Station.

“We want to make sure we have the ability to build proof cases that this place can actually hold 3000 people and we can do real festivals and have some real fun in here,” Mr Hignett said.

He said the couple had “grand plans” to offer live music, food trucks and bars, a business and community hub along with Alley-Oops Skatepark and the Scooter and Skate retail outlet.

Mr Hignett said the couple would work with the Sunshine Coast Council on a public transport plan for the venue.

Lauren and Chris Hignett have grand plans for The Station, on the NightQuarter site in Birtinya. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Getting people out of here is really hard,” he said.

The business owner said along with “getting buses running”, vans used by surf clubs and RSLs may also be used “like an Uber service”.

How the NightQuarter site looks since closing last year.. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“The whole idea is for us to be a great corporate citizen,” Mr Hignett said.

He said the couple had decided not to have alcohol sponsorship at the venue and Sunshine Coast suppliers were their first preference.

“We don’t want beer and alcohol advertising to be the first thing you see,” Mr Hignett said.

The former NightQuarter venue will transform into The Station. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“This is family place, we’re going to be selling beer, we’re going to be selling spirits, we’re going to be selling cocktails but it doesn’t need to be in your face.”

The first stage of construction will include a concert venue, skate park, retail shops, a food truck precinct and bar area, expected to open March 1 next year.

“We’re now working diligently on securing local food and beverage operators along with a range of musical performers and artists to ensure we can provide ongoing entertainment to bring in a regular stream of customers every week,” Mr Hignett said.

Ms Hignett said the vision for The Station was to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone to have a good time regardless of their interests, age or ability.

The precinct will employ up to 50 casual and about 14 full-time staff when fully operational.

Stockland Birtinya centre manager Nhan Nguyen said it was exciting that The Station was opening and would become a “great destination” on the Sunshine Coast.