Much-loved Collingwood pub to close amid calls for DJ Albo to help Melbourne’s live music status

A popular live music pub in Collingwood will call last drinks this month as Prime Minister “DJ Albo” is urged to step in to help Melbourne’s struggling live music industry.

Escalating costs are forcing Collingwood's Bendigo Hotel to close its doors.

The Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood will shut at the end of the month amid calls for Prime Minister “DJ Albo” to step in and help Melbourne’s struggling live music industry.

The Johnston St pub, built in 1911, will close because of financial pressures, including a 300 per cent spike in insurance costs.

Publican Guy Palermo declared two weeks of last drinks and said all final gigs would be honoured at Melbourne’s home of heavy metal.

Mr Palermo told the Herald Sun the “Bendi” never recovered from the pandemic despite a fundraising effort in 2021 to keep the doors open.

Rent had gone up 30 per cent, insurance was 300 per cent more, while sales had dipped 40 per cent.

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

“It’s cheaper for me to be closed than to stay open. Being closed costs me $4000 a week but if I open it’s $6000 to $12,000 a week,” Mr Palermo said.

“Debts are piling up so I have to close or I lose my house.’’

Mr Palermo said it was a tough decision after 14 years behind the bar.

“It’s my life, I get emotional talking about it.’’

Yarra councillor Stephen Jolly urged his council this week to work on a group insurance plan but failed.

More venues could go to the wall he said, and urged federal or state governments to intervene.

“This is a massive hit to the status of Melbourne as the live music capital,” Cr Jolly said.

“We have the Prime Minister DJ Albo telling us he’s the biggest fan of live music in the history of Australia, and we’ve got the Labor government always claiming to support live music, and they’re doing nothing.

“They need to be stepping up here and help because I predict the Bendigo will be the first of many (to close) unfortunately.’’

Mr Palermo said he hoped someone can take over the Bendigo and that it not go the way of so many old Melbourne pubs.

Another much-loved live music landmark, the Tote, just 170m up Johnston St from the Bendigo, was saved from developers after a $3m crowdfunding campaign.