Parramatta’s The Roxy slated for pub revamp despite violent past

The Roxy brawl of 2008 has gone down in the books as one of the worst pub fights in Parramatta history, with more than 1000 people getting involved, and a new plan could once again make the iconic venue a pokies-packed pub.

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A war of words has broken out over fears the violent history of the Roxy Hotel will be reignited in the revamp of the iconic Parramatta location as a pokies-packed pub.

The Roxy Lyric Theatre Action Group has implored the heritage-listed building’s owner, David Kingston, to scrap his pub/nightclub plans and instead restore the venue as a 1600-seat live-theatre jewel in the CBD.

“This is a pivotal moment in how the planning moves forward for the Roxy,” the group’s president, Robert Fox, said.

“Parramatta Council is putting a lot of effort into the new Civic Link as part of its massive upgrade, and is it going to want a pub there with hundreds of pokies and the sort of stuff that was going on there before? I don’t think so.

“If (Mr Kingston) won’t go down the path of a top-line live heritage theatre, then council has got to get the building back from the owner and give him a dignified exit.”

Police outside the Roxy Nightclub in George Street, Parramatta as they investigate shooting outside club which left 5 injured.

Mr Kingston hit back, labelling Mr Fox’s group as “whingers” and “hypocrites” after it opposed the original option of a $96 million tower redevelopment for the Roxy, which was dismissed by the NSW Land and Environment Court last month.

“These people are whingers in that there were two options tabled before the court: the tower and five-level cultural facility, which they opposed, or a substantially renovated pub/nightclub, which we already have approvals for,” Mr Kingston, who has owned the Roxy since 2002, said.

“It is hypocrisy in the extreme that they would object to option number one, but then attack the second pub/nightclub option, which council and Heritage NSW’s own experts said in evidence that they preferred.”

Mr Fox said he was bemused by Mr Kingston’s attack on his group.

“The simple fact is that neither option involved restoring the Roxy as a live theatre; where is the hypocrisy in that?” he said.

The Roxy Hotel had a long history of violence before it closed in 2014.

Robert Fox speaks to lawyers representing the council outside The Roxy Theatre in Parramatta. Picture: Jordan Shields

It featured on the NSW Office of Liquor & Gaming’s Violent Venues List four times after the scheme began in 2008, with 74 incidents in a six-year period.

The worst came on December 7, 2008, when a brawl took place out the front of the nightclub, where more than 1000 patrons spilled onto George St.

Police arrived on the scene to find intoxicated and brawling patrons and called for back-up. Neighbouring police commands responded, but they also required additional support from POLAIR, the Dog Squad and the Public Order and Riot Squad.

Mr Kingston tried to play down the fears of this type of incident happening again at the Roxy’s rebirth.

“Every large hotel has occasional incidents. The biggest hotel in Sydney, the Ivy, was number one on the (violent venues) list for many years. This is a function of size,” he said.

“What happened five years ago is irrelevant to now. The property will receive a significant renovation — and the nature of the property will be significantly different.”

VIOLENT PAST

The Roxy Hotel has appeared on the Violent Venues List four times since the scheme began in 2008:

July 2008 to June 2009 – 19 incidents (level one)

July 2012 to June 2013 – 15 incidents (level two)

Jan 2013 to Dec 2013 – 21 incidents (level one)

July 2013 to June 2014 – 19 incidents (level one)

A Liquor & Gaming NSW spokesman said before the Roxy reopens, “the licence conditions may need to be varied to ensure they are appropriate for any new business model”.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson said his council would “not dictate” to Mr Kingston on what he should do with his property.

“I would, though, like to see the owner get a more artist use out of the Roxy,” Cr Wilson said.

“The problems with that building have been known for a long while. If he wants it to devolve into a little swamp, I’m not in a position to stop him. And I certainly can’t blackmail him into doing something council wants.

“It really is up to him to approach us if he wants to talk about the future of his property.”Save Roxy Theatre petition