Bendigo Hotel: Collingwood hard rock pub needs $150K to stay open

Another live music institution in Melbourne is on the verge of collapse, with its owners launching a desperate fundraiser to keep its doors open.

Collingwood's The Bendigo Hotel needs $150,000 to keep its doors open. Picture: Bendigo Hotel Facebook page.

Melbourne’s home of heavy metal is on the verge of closure, with bands and owners pleading for help from the state government and fans to keep the music playing.

Collingwood’s Bendigo Hotel needs to raise $150,000 to stay open, with bills and expenses proving too much due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

An online fundraiser started by publican Guy Palermo, the Bendi-Go Fund Me, had raised almost $32,000 in two days as of Monday morning.

It included donations from bands who have regularly played at the venue over the years including King Parrot ($1000) and Whoretopsy ($500).

King Parrot frontman Matt Young said the venue was “so important” for emerging acts and its operators had “always treated us and other bands exceptionally well”.

He felt the state government had not done enough to protect and assist live music venues in the wake of the pandemic.

“It (the hotel) is pretty much the first point of call for many bands to get their start,” Young said.

Matt Young and his band King Parrot have donated $1000 to try and keep the Bendigo Hotel open. Picture: Kiel Egging.

“To see them having to do something like a GoFundMe to keep the doors open, the government should be ashamed of themselves.

“Something needs to happen to save our venues because the culture of city is going to absoutle s**t”.

Mr Palermo said he needed to raise as much money as possible by the end of the month to determine whether he could renew his lease for another five years.

He said forced closures from the virus outbreak was costing the venue about $10,000 each week.

“We’re at the situation where I’m putting money in out of my own pocket to pay my staff, and I haven’t been paying myself because I can’t afford to,” Mr Palermo said.

“If it wasn’t for my staff and the passion I have for the place, any local businessman would walk away right now if they had the opportunity.

“I don’t want to, but that’s why I’m asking for help from the community, so I can see this to the end without losing everything and my staff having no work.”

Mr Palermo said the venue had hosted thousands of bands since he took it over 11 years ago.

Melbourne thrash band Harlott in action at The Bendigo Hotel. Picture: Kiel Egging.

“We were the live music capital of the world, and now we’re nowhere near it,” he said.

“It’s a big black unknown hole we’re working under, and there’s nowhere near enough support to be able to cover your costs when we do get money.

“I have one of the best crews working for me at the moment, and I don’t want to let them down.”

A spokeswoman for Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson said the hotel had received support from the government through three different programs, including its Licensed Venues Hospitality Fund and Business Support Fund.

The spokeswoman said the government would soon announce the second round of recipients of its Live Performance Support Program, which was part of a $20m events support package.

“We know that live music venues have had it tough – that’s why we have provided support to help them get through, including the Bendigo Hotel,” the spokeswoman said.