How to celebrate the return of Melbourne’s events and win tickets
Major events are back, with theatres, galleries and restaurants reopening. Here’s how you can share in $50,000 in tickets to the hottest venues and events in Melbourne.
Victoria
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The return of Victoria’s world class major events industry could provide a $2.5bn jolt to the state economy.
As sports, music, art and fashion starved Melburnians return to the events they love, industry chiefs hope crowds will help kickstart state finances as well as people’s spirits.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said the success of the Melbourne Cup Carnival trumpeted the fact “Melbourne is back in business’’.
“Major events are what Victoria is famous for and best at,’’ he said.
“Before the pandemic it was a huge contribution to our economy and it will return but we also know it will take time.’’
At least 80,000 people are expected for day one of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG next month, and Australian Open and Melbourne Grand Prix chiefs are pushing for capacity crowds.
Melbourne will soon be the only city in the world hosting theatre productions of Moulin Rouge, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Frozen.
And the city’s hospitality sector will be big winners, with people packing bars and eateries before and after matches, shows and exhibitions.
Major events, Sports and Tourism Minister Martin Pakula said crowds flocking back to the Cup Carnival, concerts and theatre this month showed the importance of our events sector.
“The benefit for events businesses and workers and the flow-on to pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels – and wider – is enormous,’’ he said.
“Events are our calling card and the energy is back and building as we look forward to a really exciting summer.’’
While the Ashes test, two week tennis open, autumn racing carnival and Formula One Grand Prix loom, Mr Pakula said Victoria would push for more major events as the likes of NSW tried to steal our thunder.
“Of course other states look with envy to what we’ve got,’’ he said.
“But we don’t rest on our laurels and Visit Victoria is constantly scouring the world for the next Harry Potter and the Cursed Child or Moulin Rouge.”
Visit Victoria chief executive Brendan McClements said the message was simple: “Get set Australia – Melbourne is back,’’ he said.
“The return of Victoria’s major events calendar is well underway’’
A report by Ernst and Young in 2018 revealed the economic contribution of major events in Victoria was $2.53bn, up $750m since 2014.
The report also found major events attracted almost 6.9m international and interstate visitors to Victoria each year, up 24 per cent since 2016.
WELCOME BACK MELBOURNE
Melbourne social events are back and diaries are quickly filling with save the dates for parties, opening nights, and product launches as the city comes back to life after the Covid lockdown.
In the past week Melbourne has seen a surge in hosted occasions.
On Tuesday the red carpet premiere of the new James Bond film No Time To Die attracted a high profile crowd at Crown’s Village cinemas.
Celebrity 007 fans included Andy Lee and Rebecca Harding, fitness entrepreneur Sam Wood, AFL star Bailey Smith, interior designer Shaynna Blaze, Bianca Chatfield and Mark Scrivens, chef Shane Delia, Health Minister Martin Foley, Red Symons, Georgia Love and Lee Elliott, Jane and Joey Scandizzo, Chyka and Bruce Keebaugh and Mark and Silvana Philippoussis.
Business leaders and politicians turned out in force for the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s breakfast with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday.
More than 400 guests including former Victorian Premiers Dr Denis Napthine and Ted Baillieu, federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy, Alan Tudge, David Southwick, Lord Mayor Sally Capp and VCCI chief executive Paul Guerra, attended the event at The Plenary at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Other guests included Eddie McGuire, Visit Victoria chair Janet Whiting, Victoria Racing Club chief executive Neil Wilson, PJSE managing director Peter Jones, MCEC chief executive Peter King, Carlton Football Club president Luke Sayers, Australian Grand Prix chief executive Andrew Westacott, Helloworld Travel chief executive Andrew Burnes and Bunnings managing director Michael Schneider.
For the party crowd searching for some after dark action Bar Bambi, the new venture from nightclub king Nick Russian and his brother Daniel, flung open its doors in the city’s ACDC Lane.
Bar Bambi’s opening attracted a diverse crowd of party people, wags, footballers – both past and current – ex-beauty queens, influencers, and even some out-of-place politicians.
Bar Bambi is destined to be Melbourne’s late night hotspot.
Welcome back Melbourne.
Here at the Sunday Herald Sun we want to cover your events: send your event details to fiona.byrne@news.com.au
Enter for your chance to share in $50,000 worth of tickets to the best events and venues in town as Melbourne roars back to life.
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