Jemli Williams Mariner fronts Melbourne Magistrates’ Court over ATET nightclub fire
A man has been accused of lighting a fire that caused more than $350,000 of damage to a controversial floating nightclub which had enraged many Docklands residents.
Police & Courts
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The accused arsonist behind the blaze that gutted controversial floating nightclub ATET allegedly caused more than $350,000 worth of damage to the Docklands venue, it can be revealed.
Jemli Williams Mariner, 32, from Lalor, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for the first time on Monday after he was charged last month with arson – almost 18 months on from the suspicious fire.
The “floating, open-air oasis”, located in Victoria Harbour, was engulfed by flames early on January 31 last year after it was allegedly set on fire by Mr Williams Mariner following months of fierce backlash from Docklands locals.
No one was injured in the inferno.
According to charge sheets released to the Herald Sun, the fire is believed to have caused more than $350,000 worth of damage to the venue.
Photos taken of the aftermath show charred tables, chairs and other interiors and sections of the roof melted off.
Mr Williams Mariner was arrested in April this year and a search warrant executed at his Lalor property, but he was released pending further inquiries.
He was charged on July 8 with arson and possession of methamphetamine.
On Monday, the accused firebug sat behind his defence lawyer as his charges were formally filed with the court by magistrate Donna Bakos.
No details of the alleged arson were aired during the brief administrative hearing, but the court heard that no others were involved.
The defence lawyer confirmed to Ms Bakos that her client was not on bail, but on summons.
ATET managed to reopen within a fortnight of the fire after dozens of volunteers offered to help the owners with the clean-up and the rebuild.
Founder Jake Hughes opened the venue in October 2022 to rival other floating venues, such as Arbory Afloat and Yarra Botanica, spending about $2m to bring his “dream” to life.
But despite its popularity with partygoers, the fancy floating barge – which faces thousands of apartments – copped community backlash, with residents complaining they were being blasted with loud music into the early hours of the morning.
The City of Melbourne terminated ATET’s operating licence in June last year following these complaints, but the owners launched legal action in December, alleging the licence was wrongfully terminated. The case remains before the court.
Mr Williams Mariner covered his face with a bandana as he left court with his lawyer.
He will return to court for a committal mention on October 11.
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