The Albion, formerly The Motel, South Melbourne fire: celebrity world in shock

IT made headlines for a famous hook-up and Bunga Bunga parties. The celebrity world is in shock after news a colourful Melbourne nightclub burnt down.

2004 : Melbourne pole dancer Angela Gallagher in 2004 image, posed for Australian Penthouse for 06/04 edition after going public about alleged affair with cricketer Warne. F/L

WHEN news broke this morning that The Albion had burned down, Melbourne’s nightclub and celebrity world was in shock.

Known by most from its colourful past life as The Motel, the York St property was more than just a nightclub to many in that glitzy and glamorous after dark world of Melbourne’s elite.

It was a place where friendships were formed, romances bloomed, and the occasional celebrity got themselves in a spot of bother in the wee hours.

Angela Gallagher claims she started an affair with cricketer Shane Warne after meeting him at The Motel.

The Motel may best be remembered — or forgotten — for making headlines in 2003 when stripper Angela Gallagher claimed she started an affair with Shane Warne after meeting him there.

The venue had long been the destination for sportsmen, and particularly AFL players to head for beers of celebration or commiserations after a big game at the MCG.

No more so than Collingwood star Dane Swan, who has been a regular at the venue over the years — more like an unofficial ambassador for the South Melbourne venue.

Swan formed several friendships at the venue, with his best mate Ben Vague.

The pair spent many a night drinking on the famous Motel rooftop, so much so they decided to jump on board as business partners when the venue closed last year.

Collingwood star Dane Swan at The Albion. Picture: Jay Town

It was set to relaunch with as The Albion later this month.

Just recently invitations were sent out for the official reopening, with a function was to be held on Friday the 23rd of this month, the night before the Cox Plate.

Being a brand new venue and because of the connections of the owners, The Albion was set to be the place to be during Melbourne Cup Week.

Plans were also in place for huge parties in coming months, including on the roof top on New Year’s Day.

All this just makes what happened this morning terribly sad.

Looking back at The Motel, there is no doubt it has a nostalgic place in the youth of many Melburnians.

Mick Molloy’s Triple M Bunga Bunga party at The Motel.

At its peak on a Saturday night early this decade and the decade before, you had to “know someone” to get in the door.

It helped however if you didn't arrive with a group of blokes — the venue was always already chock-a-block full of footballers and sportsmen.

They were looked after by the owners there, although some found themselves in the news after unsavoury incidents.

It hosted some famous parties over the years, including Mick Molly’s Bunga Bunga parties for Triple M back in 2011 and 2012.

When the owners closed The Motel and renovations started, it really needed it.

Behind the nightclub there were a rabbit warren of corridors and old offices. If those out-of-the-way spaces could talk ...

The buzz around The Albion was growing every day. Let’s hope it can come back from today’s setback, and that there is a future for the venue as memorable as that of The Motel.