Sydney venue forced to cancel it’s ‘wholesome celebration of country’s Diggers’ on Anzac Day because of noise complaints

There’ll be no two-up tradition happening on Anzac Day at The Great Club, thanks to an unresolved long-running dispute between the Marrickville venue and some vocal neighbours.

Alison Avron at The Great Club in Marrickville has spent the past 12 months. The venue has been forced to cancel its Anzac Day event because of ongoing complaints from neighbours. Picture: Daily Telegraph/ Monique Harmer

A club in Marrickville has been forced to cancel its Anzac Day event because of ongoing complaints from neighbours.

The Great Club in Marrickville, has cancelled their scheduled carpark two-up and Australian bites menu on the public holiday because they “fear” the response from three NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) neighbours’ consistent complaints.

“It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to cancel our Anzac Day event,” wrote the clubs licensee, Alison Avron, on Facebook.

“With neighbours continuing to complain, and no answers or resolutions from council, we don’t want to risk ruffling the wrong feathers.”

The Great Club had planned to host a family and dog-friendly game of two-up in their carpark from midday and finish at 5pm. They had consulted with police to ensure everything was compliant.

Alison Avron pictured in the carpark at The Great Club in Marrickville. The Great Club has cancelled its planned two up event on Anzac Day because of NIMBY complaints. Picture: Daily Telegraph/ Monique Harmer

It was also the first time since Covid they were to host the event.

“Despite our best efforts, it still appears we are in fear and unfortunately cannot go ahead with a family friendly, wholesome celebration of our country’s Diggers,” the post read.

Avron has spent the past 12 months fighting noise complaints from neighbours, despite the venue being in operation since 1952, and the area being a beacon for the city’s music and culture scene. In 2022 it was the only NSW suburb to feature in Time Out’s List of 51 coolest neighbourhoods in the world.

Under the Inner West Council’s “Good Neighbour Policy”, all parties met last month in mediation. Afterwards, Avron was instructed to fix a door that would bang shut and updated the website to remove any suggestion of ample street parking.

Alison Avron, owner of Marrickville's The Great Club, said making the decision to cancel Anzac Day was made with a “heavy heart.” Picture: Richard Dobson

One patron called the complaints and subsequent cancellation “Un-Australian.”

Another added it was “bullsh*t!”

“Had planned a great day there with family and friends including our kids. It’s bloody Anzac Day?”

Avron said she received communication that despite her efforts, the three complaints will “continue to complain to all the relevant bodies.”

“We have actively been addressing previous complaints so, coupled with the consideration that we are waiting on feedback from Office of Liquor and Gaming NSW and dealing with attempts at mediation where the other parties are not willing participants, we simply feel there is too much at risk to process with the Anzac activities,” she said.

“It‘s pretty disappointing considering the event was geared as so family friendly and an alternative to the, maybe, rowdier Anzac Day offerings around the area.”

Avron, one of very few female operators of music venues, has spent more than $20,000 in legal fees and has started a fundraiser to fight the closure of the club in the face of neighbour complaints.

The club has played host to musical acts like Mahalia Barnes and Tim Rogers.