Inside the Melbourne Pavilion’s checkered past
Underworld figures and warring political factions have put this infamous Kensington venue on the map — for all the wrong reasons.
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Melbourne Pavilion’s colourful and violent history again came to the fore just last week when broadcaster and former police officer Rex Hunt was at the centre of a bloody brawl at the popular events space.
The former Victoria Police senior sergeant foiled a thief who attempted to make off with a bag belonging to A Current Affair reporter Seb Costello outside the Kensington venue.
But, this isn’t the first time tensions have boiled over at the Racecourse Rd events space.
Front of mind for boxing and sports fans, the multi-level Kensington event space hosts regular boxing matches and has recently undergone a revamp to host parties and wedding receptions.
The Pavilion has not always been prime real estate for happy endings, with a litany of violent brawls and even a fatal shooting sticking in locals’ minds over the years.
The Herald Sun has compiled the venue’s most notorious claims to fame that put the space on the map – for all the wrong reasons.
REX HUNT
Former Victoria Police senior sergeant and broadcaster Rex Hunt was hailed a “hero” and a “warrior” after following a would-be thief outside the Melbourne Pavilion who stole a satchel belonging to A Current Affair reporter Seb Costello on December 11.
Mr Hunt attended the venue to be the ring announcer for the Once Upon A Time fight, but found himself with bloodied knuckles laden with cuts and bruises after he caught the thief rummaging through Costello’s bag.
Former Brighton Mayor John Locco, who watched the incident unfold, told the Herald Sun Mr Hunt caught the thief red-handed before he stopped the man from stealing items belonging to Costello.
“Rex saw what the thief was doing, and followed him to where he was going to go through the contents of Seb’s satchel,” Mr Locco said.
“The thief went to the toilet and was going through the contents of the briefcase, looking for what might be valuable. In those circumstances, Rex retrieved the satchel, much like Ron Barassi took on a bloke in the street who attacked a woman.”
HUNTER IOANE
Professional lightweight boxer Hunter Ioane was beaten by several men outside the Melbourne Pavilion after a Thai boxing match at the Kensington venue in October.
Following the six-round boxing event, which was given the green light to go ahead without crowds in attendance during stage four restrictions, Ioane was confronted by the men moments after losing the fight.
The Age revealed two men allegedly punched and kicked the boxer after the match, which was viewed on a live stream by more than 600 people around the country.
It is understood at least one of the attackers was at the time of the brawl registered with the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board, but did not compete on the night.
BEN TOGIAI
Craigieburn father Ben Togiai was gunned down at the Melbourne Pavilion in what police believed was a targeted hit at a boxing match attended by some of Melbourne’s most notorious gangland figures on March 1, 2019.
Underworld figure Mick Gatto, former bikie Toby Mitchell and members of the violent Haddara family — there to watch relative Waleed Haddara in the ring — were also in attendance when the fatal shots were fired.
In the wake of the shooting, police hunted for two gunmen who fled the venue in the wake of the attack before police charged then 28-year-old Ali El Nasher with attempted murder.
Mr El Nasher was one of three suspects at the centre of a nationwide manhunt following the shooting before he handed himself in to police two days after the attack.
He fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court over charges of attempted murder, assault, affray, committing an indictable offence on bail and intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence.
He remains on remand at Barwon Prison.
The shooting also left two men aged in their 20s with bullet wounds.
It is understood retired Richmond player Jake King was one of the spectators who forked out as much as $550 to see the seven-round match.
MILO YIANNOPOULOS
More than 100 police officers lined the perimeter of the Melbourne Pavilion on December 6 2017 when alt-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos held a talk that attracted aggressive protesters outside the hall.
Hundreds of protesters demonstrating against the right-wing personality pelted riot police with bins, bottles, rocks and shopping trolleys before riot squad officers brandished the crowd with pepper spray.
At the time, Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane said police were unaware the Melbourne Pavilion would be the venue for Yiannopoulos’ talk until hours before the event.
He said some of the more violent rioters were known to police.
“Both sides need to have a good hard look in the mirror at themselves,” he said.
“The Right side came in smaller numbers and there was a group of them who we’ve known for some time.
“They decided to come and disrupt the counter protest and set about early to agitate the Left protesters.”
Mr Leane said between 300 and 500 Left socialist protesters attended the venue about 6pm, compared to just 30-50 right-wing rioters.
Police remained stationed at the pavilion when about 200 socialist protesters confronted the Yiannopoulos supporters, brandishing pro-Donald Trump paraphernalia, including Make America Great Again hats.
MAFS STARS
Footage emerged of two Married At First Sight stars coming to blows at a Melbourne boxing match on December 17.
Former contestants Bryce Ruthven and Sam Carraro were filmed lunging at one another outside the ring at the Team Ellis event, during which Ruthven’s fiancee Melissa Rawson, 32, was injured during her bid to pry the two men apart.
It is understood tensions boiled over between Ruthven, 32, and Carraro, 33, after the Whatever It Takes celebrity boxing match at the Melbourne Pavilion, when Carraro challenged Ruthven to a future match following his win against Love Island Star Todd Elton.
Carraro can be heard taunting Ruthven, labelling him “gonzo” – a nickname he gained during his time on Married At First Sight, referencing the size of his nose.
About half a dozen crowdgoers could be seen trying to keep the men apart before the pair swung at one another.
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