NAMED: Tassie’s nightclub brawlers, bashers and shooters

From a powerlifter who fired a rifle inside a venue to a jawbreaking bashing in Hobart - Tasmania’s clubs are no stranger to violence. FULL LIST OF CRIMES >>

Threats of violence never eventuated for the security guards at Hobart’s Observatory nightclub, who remain decidedly un-bashed despite the threats from social media trolls.

A Facebook event page called “Roll the obar security” attracted over 1500 followers, but none of them turned up on December 18 to administer their promised bashing.

However, Tasmania’s nightclubs are no stranger to violence, which have been documented throughout the years in The Mercury’s pages.

Wayne William Howlett

One particularly famous case was that of Glenorchy powerlifter Wayne William Howlett, who fired an assault rifle through the doors of the Pablo’s Cocktails and Dreams while smothered in war paint.

Mr Howlett was on cocaine and alcohol at the time, and was in the middle of a dispute with the club manager Andrew Corney.

There were about 30 patrons partying inside at the time of the shooting, but through “sheer luck” nobody was killed that night.

The only real damage was to the metal door, which was perforated with a volley of 25 bullets.

While deliberating over the case Justice Michael Brett described it as “a unique act, in the city of Hobart at least”.

Wayne William Howlett, at the Supreme Court.

Mr Howlett has previous run-ins with the law, having previously served a criminal group known as the Glenorchy Mafia until 2002.

In Tasmania he is best known as a competitor in the World Raw Powerlifting Federation World Championships, but has been banned from other competitions due to steroid use.

He has been caught attempting to smuggle steroids into the prison, however the parole board note that he has since sworn off steroids and has had no incidents since then.

The board noted he now engaged himself in a “positive way” in the powerlifting scene and helped inmates with their weight training, agreeing to grant him parole.

Mr Howlett returned to Instagram after a 20 week hiatus with a post on January 13 2022.

“Life is precious and time is paramount. Time wasted on sitting idle is time you will never recover,” he wrote.

He had been sentenced to five years in jail with a minimum non-parole period of three years for his shooting offence.

Nathan Robert Griffith

Another alcohol-fuelled bashing was administered by Dodges Ferry builder Nathan Robert Griffith, who broke a man’s jaw in two places outside Hobart’s Mobius nightclub.

The injured man Peter Bowerman had spoken to Mr Griffith’s girlfriend prior to the bashing, and one witness testified he was punched up to five times during the attack.

Hobart supreme court picture of Nathan Griffith.

Mr Griffith’s defence lawyer admitted Mr Griffith had a history of violent offending, but that he had made great strides to rehabilitate himself and was genuinely remorseful.

He was found not guilty of one count of assault, but found guilty on a second count of assault.

Griffith was remanded in custody for sentencing on November 19 of 2014.

Sam Brett Williams

In a separate jawbreaking incident, a 22-year-old painter bashed a stranger so hard that two of his teeth needed to be removed.

Sam Brett Williams got into an altercation with a man outside the Ivory Bar on Collins Street after having been thrown out of the club earlier that night.

Despite the man holding out his hands in a non-threatening manner, Mr Williams threw a roundhouse punch that connected with his face.

A security guard stepped in to break up the fight and was also attacked by Mr Williams, whose next punch struck the guard’s hand.

The injured man had to be taken to hospital to have two teeth removed and a plate inserted into his face.

While presiding over his case, Supreme Court Justice Shan Tennant noted that Mr William’s actions were “unnecessary”.

Williams was sentenced to six months in prison, with three months suspended for three years.

Justice Tennent also ordered the defendant perform 100 hours of community service after his release.

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