The nightclubs that have come and gone in Melbourne’s east
They were the scene of some big nights close to home, but have since been closed down or replaced by gyms and clothing stores. Take a look at our list of dearly departed nightclubs in Melbourne’s east.
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They were the meeting places for plenty of drinks, busting moves, cheeky hook-ups and big nights close to home.
But the party has to end some day and sadly for partygoers — many of them who might care to forget some of their antics — some of the most popular nightclubs in Melbourne’s east of the past few decades have had to call last drinks.
Here are some of the much-loved spots that were once the life of the party.
DAKOTA
Ringwood
Sticky floors, dancer poles and skittle bombs — they were all part of a big night out at Ringwood’s Dakota nightclub, which was once known as Denim Lounge.
But ‘Dirty Dakkas’ was turned to ashes in May 2016 when the Maroondah Highway venue was destroyed by fire, and its former regulars have mourned its loss ever since.
The site remained empty until a grand plan for an $8 million three-level building was revealed in late 2017.
Construction finally began early last year and it will boast a new nightclub with a beer garden and function centre above.
The building appears to be almost finished and the new nightclub, Baby, is likely to open later this year, along with a hotdog shop next door for a late-night feed.
JOOCE
Ringwood
Not far down the road from Dakota, Jooce — later known as East 93 — was the place to be for outer-east clubbers in the 1990s and early 2000s.
It was promoted as the biggest single-level nightclub in the southern hemisphere, and plenty of big-name DJs blasted dance anthems in the Buzz Bar until it closed in the early 2000s.
With the hot dog van out the front, many drunken punters would attempt to wave down a passing taxi with tomato sauce stains down their best Saturday night white shirt.
And who didn’t hit the back room to rock out to Pean?
These days the site at 93-97 Maroondah Highway is home to a Rivers shop at the front and a Genesis gym at the back.
It was recently put up for sale and is likely to be transformed into a multistorey, mixed use site in the coming years.
THE POOL ROOM
Ferntree Gully
This Ferntree Gully institution was open for just over 10 years and offered more than just rows of pool tables.
Big lines of uni students and local partygoers queued for its Thursday nights with cover band Adam 12, and other bands and DJs also brought the good times on the weekend.
The venue still did plenty of pool outside of its party nights, and competitions from the venue were often broadcast on Channel 31.
It closed in December 2011 and an Arthur Daly clearance warehouse is now at the site.
THE MOUNTAIN VIEW
Glen Waverley
Dubbed by some partygoers as ‘The Spew’, the Glen Waverley pub on the corner of Springvale and High Street roads drew revellers for its nightclub ‘The View’.
It had flashing white lights at its entrance and boasted cheap drinks, DJ’s, acoustic duos and cover bands all in the one night.
Punters in the know would kick off Thursday nights at the Burvale before the taxi — or designated driver — took the crew down Springvale Rd to continue the party at ‘The Spew’.
Being opposite McDonalds for a late-night feed didn’t hurt either.
According to Max Moose, things were changed up in 2004 with an international music night featuring “everything from Asian music to European house” before the club closed a year later.
Today, the pub is still standing but it only boasts a TAB, sports bar, bottle shop and bistro.
STYLUS
Ferntree Gully
This old Ferntree Gully hotspot on Burwood Highway was born from the ashes of the famous Swagman restaurant, which burnt down in 1991.
It was a warehouse-sized venue which was popular with techno fans and also boasted a cocktail lounge and band room until it closed in the early 2000s.
Ferntree Gully’s ALDI supermarket is now located on the site.
In a description for the ‘Remembering Stylus Nightclub’ Facebook group, it was billed as “a nightclub that outshone all others in the outer suburbs”.
The group operators wrote: “Everyone knew someone! It had a homely feel, whether you wanted to chill back with workmates or cut sick with ya buddies! Aaaaahhh … Happy times! Except if you wanted a taxi … finish up at 3am — be home by 7!”
MORE: SCHOOL SCANDALS THAT ROCKED MELBOURNE’S EAST
YOUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANTS WHICH HAVE CLOSED
DEMOLITION OF MELBOURNE’S METRO NIGHTCLUB BEGINS
CHEERS
Hawthorn
A rite of passage for almost every 18-year-old or university student, the longstanding Caseys nightclub — widely known as Cheers — was Melbourne’s place to be on a Tuesday night.
Located next to Glenferrie railway station, it boasted four rooms over two levels and regularly attracted well-known DJs pumping out the latest hits.
Cheers’ main drawcard was ‘Toss The Boss’, with clubbers getting the chance to win up to four free drinks on the toss of a coin.
Toss The Boss stopped in 2009, but the club night continued to be a huge hit until it finished in 2018.
The future of the nightclub site at 660 Glenferrie Road is unknown, however the Cheers team appears to have found a new home at South Yarra’s Lucky Coq.