Iconic Eltham live music venue Missing Gorilla up for sale

A Melbourne live music venue that has played host to some of Oz Rock’s biggest names including Boom Crash Opera, Kids in the Kitchen and Ross Wilson, is on the market for a song.

The Missing Gorilla is up for sale. Picture: Supplied.

A Melbourne live music venue that has played host to some of Oz Rock’s biggest names including Boom Crash Opera, Kids in the Kitchen and Ross Wilson, is on the market for a song.

Eltham’s Missing Gorilla would be known to many as Volumes Bookstore and Cafe, but when

Anthony Cayless and Jason Muller took over they turned it into a vibrant venue for gigs.

“We have spent the last four years upgrading it, to make it what it is today, and we have absolutely loved it,” said Mr Muller.

“It is a thriving success but it is time for us to move on.”

Business owners Anthony Cayless and Jason Muller with the Chantoozies after they performed at the Missing Gorilla. Picture: Supplied.

The venue features a cafe, bar, restaurant and function facilities, and has had the likes of

The Black Sorrows & Joe Camilleri, Dave Thornton, The Chantoozies, The Badloves, Kids in the Kitchen, Wilbur Wilde and the Eurogliders grace the stage.

The Missing Gorilla has been host to several popular Australian artists. Picture: Supplied.

“It is an incredibly special venue, to us and to the community,” Mr Cayless said.

“My mum used to take me to the cafe when I was four years old.”

The venue features a mural that was painted in the 1980s, showcasing Broadway. New Orleans with touches of the local landscape.

The Volumes mural inside the Missing Gorilla. Picture: Supplied.

“When we opened four years ago, we had people coming in just to make sure we did not get rid of the mural,’’ he said.

“The artist added the faces of people who came into the cafe to the mural, so we have people who can point out their grandparents in the mural.”

The pair want the next owners to cherish the venue.

“From a community view, we would love the next wonders to appreciate what the venue was, what is it now and take that forward,” Mr Muller said.

“We are so proud of what we have built and it is going to be so sad to let it go.

“We want the next owners to love it as much as we did.”

The long-term lease of the venue was listed for sale on Monday at $950,000 plus stock at valuation.