Lost pubs of Melbourne: Farewell to city watering holes
Several beloved Melbourne hotels are making way for the inner-city development boom. So let’s raise a glass and salute the pubs that have called last drinks.
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As much as Melburnians love to have a good drink in a great pub, even more of our favourite watering holes have closed their doors in the past few years.
Some have fallen victim to the appetite for inner-city apartments while others are still waiting for their future to be decided.
So here’s cheers to a few grand Melbourne pubs to have called last drinks:
Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick
1852-2018
The “Brunny” on Sydney Rd was built in 1852 and known for its live music and was often packed with uni students enjoying the tunes. In 2018, a driver hit a nearby fire hydrant and water damage forced the pub to close.
In a final statement, the owners said, “To every band, artist, comedian, patron and staff member who has played a small or large role in our history, we THANK YOU. The Brunny would never have been what it was without the community that supports it.”
The building is still boarded up.
Bridie O’Reilly’s, Brunswick
1854-2017
Bridie O’Reilly’s in Brunswick was only a little younger than the Brunny. Originally named the Sarah Sands Hotel, after a British ship, it was sold and renamed in 1997 to become the Bridie O’Reilly’s that locals knew and loved.
The original pub closed in 2017, to make space for a new apartment block. At least the name lives on, at its new location on Chapel St.
Greyhound Hotel, St Kilda
1853-2017
The Greyhound Hotel, if nothing else, was well known to be an LGBTQI+ friendly place. The ‘GH’, hosted drag shows and drag bingo, as well as functioning as a nightclub.
In 2017, despite an outpouring of community support, the Greyhound Hotel ran its last race. Developer Steller bought the Brighton St pub, demolished it and had plans to build apartments. But the company collapsed and the land was sold again last month.
London Hotel, Port Melbourne
1870-2017
The London Hotel was opened in 1870 overlooking Station Pier, selling alcohol to sailors and dock workers after long days. When plans to demolish it were announced, outcry led to a request to have the London Hotel heritage listed to prevent it.
The request was denied. Some 13 luxury apartments are now being built on the project on Beach St called The London.
The Palmerston Hotel, South Melbourne
Closed January 2018
A pub is nothing without a good chicken parmigiana, and the Palmerston Hotel took great pride in theirs. It was popular with nearby public servants, who would hit it up in the afternoons for a Friday lunch.
The Palmerston closed in early 2018. The block has since been approved to become a residential building.
Great Western Hotel, King St, CBD
1864-2017
The Great Western Hotel has sat at the corner of King St and Little Bourke since 1864. In the early 2000s, the GWH would sell about 40 barrels of beer a week, but this had declined to fewer than 14 by its final year.
The pub was sold to be replaced by a 26-storey apartment complex, with only the facade of the building remaining.
The Reverence Hotel, Footscray
Closed March 2019
Contrary to some on this list, the Reverence on Napier St had plenty of warning before it closed, and was able to organise a suitably grand send-off.
Holding a three-week party featuring the Smith Street Band, Camp Cope and a couple of surprises is how we should all wish to go. The bar’s website is still up, as one final memorial to the Reverence.
AND COUNTING DOWN TO CLOSURE:
Central Club Hotel, North Melbourne
This Victoria St pub has been a favourite watering hole for Queen Victoria Market traders and customers alike since the late 1800s. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation bought the Victoria St pub two years ago and wants to convert it into an eight-storey accommodation block for nurses.
Central Club Hotel, Richmond
Another pub by the name of Central Club is also earmarked for development. Plans are afoot to turn the Swan St hotel and nearby land in Richmond into a seven-storey apartment block.
AND SPARED FOR NOW:
The Quiet Man, Kensington
The popular Irish pub seemed doomed when plans were approved in 2017 to convert the pub into an apartment block. But the building on Racecourse Rd changed owners, the planning permit lapsed and the pub is now preparing to host yet another St Patrick’s Day party in March. Cheers!