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The Phoenician Club is a former entertainment venue in Sydney, Australia. It was located in Ultimo, New South Wales at the corner of Broadway and Mountain Street, opposite St Barnabas Church. The venue itself had gone through various uses and had different names before it became the Phoenician Club, a meeting place for Sydney's Maltese community, in 1980. Before then, the building and the club had existed separately. The Phoenician Club had existed as a social organisation since 1963. The building had at various times functioned as a cinema and television studio, among other roles.^[1] The Phoenician Club became well known for hosting rock concerts, which provided its owners with a steady source of income for running community activities. It was a popular venue for both Australian and overseas groups and many concerts took place at the club during its history. Following the death of Anna Wood, a high school student who died from taking the drug ecstasy while attending a rave party at the venue, significant restrictions were imposed on the club, eventually leading to its closure in 1998.

History

The premises opened as the Broadway Theatre in 1911, initially screening silent films. It was later rewired for sound when talking movies became widespread in the late 1920s. Until its redevelopment in 2001, the building had been one of the oldest surviving purpose-built cinemas in Sydney. The building operated as a cinema until 1960.

The premises were run as a discothèque called Jonathan's Disco from 1968 to 1972 and is notable in the history of the Australian pop band Sherbet, who played a formative eight-month residency there during 1970. It was here that they were first seen by their future manager Roger Davies.^{[citation needed]} Sherbet shared residency at the venue with the group Fraternity and AC/DC also played at the venue during this period.^[1] Following a fire at the premises in 1972, the building was derelict until it was re-opened as a ballroom in 1976.^[2] In 1980, Sydney City Council granted consent for the Maltese community to take over the premises as the Phoenician Club. By becoming a licensed venue, the premises' role as a major music venue in Sydney significantly expanded.^[1] This gave the club a reliable source of revenue for its community activities.

The Phoenician Club became a popular rock venue in the 1980s, hosting many concerts by both local and overseas groups. Simulations of Manchester techno dance parties were held at the club in 1991.^[1] In January 1992, Nirvana played their first Australian show there.^[3] It became the focus of a major public controversy in 1995 following the death of Sydney teenager Anna Wood, who died from a cerebral oedema after taking the drug ecstasy while attending a rave dance party at the venue. The club survived calls for it to be immediately closed down in the ensuing public fall-out over Wood's death. Fines and restrictions imposed on it by the courts and Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing significantly reduced its role as a major music venue.^[4] The club eventually closed down in 1998^[5] with the building once again becoming derelict. It was redeveloped in 2001 and has since re-opened with new commercial occupants.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Homan, Shane (1998). "After the Law: The Phoenician Club, the Premier, and the Death of Anna Wood" (PDF). pp. 4–5. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
^ "State Heritage Inventory". 22 October 2019.
^ "Live Nirvana – Live Nirvana Tour History – A Complete Guide To Nirvana's Live Performances". livenirvana.com. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
^ Homan, After the Law: The Phoenician Club, the Premier, and the Death of Anna Wood, pp. 24–25
^ Mark Caruana (2008). "Maltese". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 5 November 2010.

External links

The day the music died

[Homan-1] Homan, Shane (1998). "After the Law: The Phoenician Club, the Premier, and the Death of Anna Wood" (PDF). pp. 4–5. Retrieved 28 October 2008.

[2] "State Heritage Inventory". 22 October 2019.

[3] "Live Nirvana – Live Nirvana Tour History – A Complete Guide To Nirvana's Live Performances". livenirvana.com. Retrieved 11 November 2015.

[4] Homan, After the Law: The Phoenician Club, the Premier, and the Death of Anna Wood, pp. 24–25

[5] Mark Caruana (2008). "Maltese". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 5 November 2010.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
 {{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
-{{Refimprove|date=August 2011}}
+{{More citations needed|date=August 2011}}
-The '''Phoenician Club''' is a former [[entertainment venue]] in [[Sydney, Australia]].  It was located in [[Ultimo, New South Wales]] at the corner of [[Broadway, Sydney|Broadway]] and Mountain Street, opposite [[St Barnabas, Broadway|St Barnabas Church]]. The venue itself had gone through various uses and had different names before it became the Phoenician Club, a meeting place for Sydney's [[Maltese people|Maltese community]], in 1980. Before then, the building and the club had existed separately. The Phoenician Club had existed as a social organisation since 1963. The building had at various times functioned as a cinema and television studio, among other roles.<ref name="Homan">{{Cite web |url= http://www.snarl.org/youth/homan1.pdf|title= After the Law:  The Phoenician Club, the Premier, and the Death of Anna Wood|accessdate=2008-10-28 |first= Shane|last= Homan|year= 1998|pages= 4–5 |postscript= <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref>  The Phoenician Club became well known for hosting rock concerts, which provided its organisers with a steady source of income for running community activities.  It was a popular venue for both Australian and overseas groups and many concerts took place at the club during its history.  Following the death of [[Anna Wood (born 1980)|Anna Wood]], a high school student who died from taking the drug, [[MDMA|ecstasy]], while at the venue, significant restrictions were imposed on the club, eventually leading to its closure in 1998.
+The '''Phoenician Club''' is a former [[entertainment venue]] in Sydney, Australia.  It was located in [[Ultimo, New South Wales]] at the corner of [[Broadway, Sydney|Broadway]] and Mountain Street, opposite [[St Barnabas, Broadway|St Barnabas Church]]. The venue itself had gone through various uses and had different names before it became the Phoenician Club, a meeting place for Sydney's [[Maltese people|Maltese community]], in 1980. Before then, the building and the club had existed separately. The Phoenician Club had existed as a social organisation since 1963. The building had at various times functioned as a cinema and television studio, among other roles.<ref name="Homan">{{Cite web |url= http://www.snarl.org/youth/homan1.pdf|title= After the Law: The Phoenician Club, the Premier, and the Death of Anna Wood|accessdate=28 October 2008 |first= Shane|last= Homan|year= 1998|pages= 4–5 }}</ref> The Phoenician Club became well known for hosting rock concerts, which provided its owners with a steady source of income for running community activities.  It was a popular venue for both Australian and overseas groups and many concerts took place at the club during its history.  Following the death of [[Anna Wood (born 1980)|Anna Wood]], a high school student who died from taking the drug [[MDMA|ecstasy]] while attending a [[rave party]] at the venue, significant restrictions were imposed on the club, eventually leading to its closure in 1998.
 ==History==
 [[File:Phoenician Club Plaque.jpg|thumb|Plaque erected on former site of the Phoenician Club, commemorating its history and its earlier functions.]]
-The premises opened as the Broadway Theatre in 1911, initially screening silent films.  It was later rewired for sound when talking movies became widespread.  Until its redevelopment in 2001, the building had been one of the oldest surviving purpose-built cinemas in Sydney.  The building operated as a cinema until 1960.
+The premises opened as the Broadway Theatre in 1911, initially screening silent films.  It was later rewired for sound when talking movies became widespread in the late 1920s.  Until its redevelopment in 2001, the building had been one of the oldest surviving purpose-built cinemas in Sydney.  The building operated as a cinema until 1960.
-The premises were run as a discothèque called [[Jonathan's Disco]] in the early 1970s and is notable in the history of the Australian pop band [[Sherbet (band)|Sherbet]], who played a formative eight-month residency there during 1970; it was here that they were first seen by their future manager [[Roger Davies (manager)|Roger Davies]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} Sherbet shared residency at the venue with the group [[Fraternity (band)|Fraternity]].  [[AC/DC]] also played at the venue during this period.<ref name="Homan"/>  Following a fire at the premises, the building was re-opened as a ballroom for a short period in 1976. In 1980, Sydney City Council granted consent for the Maltese community to take over the premises as the Phoenician Club.  By becoming a licensed venue, the premises' role as a major music venue in Sydney significantly expanded.<ref name="Homan"/>  This gave the club a reliable source of revenue for its community activities.
+The premises were run as a discothèque called Jonathan's Disco from 1968 to 1972 and is notable in the history of the Australian pop band [[Sherbet (band)|Sherbet]], who played a formative eight-month residency there during 1970.  It was here that they were first seen by their future manager [[Roger Davies (manager)|Roger Davies]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} Sherbet shared residency at the venue with the group [[Fraternity (band)|Fraternity]] and [[AC/DC]] also played at the venue during this period.<ref name="Homan"/> Following a fire at the premises in 1972, the building was derelict until it was re-opened as a ballroom in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2420136|title = State Heritage Inventory|date = 22 October 2019}}</ref> In 1980, Sydney City Council granted consent for the Maltese community to take over the premises as the Phoenician Club.  By becoming a licensed venue, the premises' role as a major music venue in Sydney significantly expanded.<ref name="Homan"/>  This gave the club a reliable source of revenue for its community activities.
-The Phoenician Club became a popular rock venue in the 1980s, hosting many concerts by both local and overseas groups.  Simulations of [[Madchester|Manchester techno dance parties]] were held at the club in 1991.<ref name="Homan"/> In January 1992, [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] played their first Australian show there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livenirvana.com/tourhistory/|title=Live Nirvana – Live Nirvana Tour History – A Complete Guide To Nirvana's Live Performances|work=livenirvana.com|accessdate=11 November 2015}}</ref> It became the focus of a major public controversy in 1995 following the death of Sydney teenager [[Anna Wood (schoolgirl)|Anna Wood]], who died from a [[cerebral edema|cerebral oedema]] after taking the drug [[MDMA|ecstasy]] while attending a [[rave]] dance party at the venue.  The club survived calls for it to be closed down in the ensuing public fall–out over Wood's death.  Fines and restrictions imposed on it by the courts significantly reduced its role as a major music venue, however.<ref>Homan, [http://www.snarl.org/youth/homan1.pdf ''After the Law:  The Phoenician Club, the Premier, and the Death of Anna Wood''], pp. 24–25</ref>  The club eventually closed down in 1998,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/maltese|title= Maltese|author= Mark Caruana|year= 2008|work= Dictionary of Sydney|publisher= |accessdate=5 November 2010}}</ref> and it has since been redeveloped into residential and commercial premises.
+The Phoenician Club became a popular rock venue in the 1980s, hosting many concerts by both local and overseas groups.  Simulations of [[Madchester|Manchester techno dance parties]] were held at the club in 1991.<ref name="Homan"/> In January 1992, [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] played their first Australian show there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livenirvana.com/tourhistory/|title=Live Nirvana – Live Nirvana Tour History – A Complete Guide To Nirvana's Live Performances|work=livenirvana.com|accessdate=11 November 2015}}</ref> It became the focus of a major public controversy in 1995 following the death of Sydney teenager [[Anna Wood (born 1980)|Anna Wood]], who died from a [[cerebral edema|cerebral oedema]] after taking the drug [[MDMA|ecstasy]] while attending a [[rave]] dance party at the venue.  The club survived calls for it to be immediately closed down in the ensuing public fall-out over Wood's death.  Fines and restrictions imposed on it by the courts and Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing significantly reduced its role as a major music venue.<ref>Homan, [http://www.snarl.org/youth/homan1.pdf ''After the Law:  The Phoenician Club, the Premier, and the Death of Anna Wood''], pp. 24–25</ref> The club eventually closed down in 1998<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/maltese|title= Maltese|author= Mark Caruana|year= 2008|work= Dictionary of Sydney|accessdate=5 November 2010}}</ref> with the building once again becoming derelict.  It was redeveloped in 2001 and has since re-opened with new commercial occupants.
 ==References==
@@ Line 17: / Line 18: @@
 *[http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/music/the-day-the-music-died/2009/12/29/1261982306603.html The day the music died]
-{{Pubs in Sydney}}
+{{Authority control}}
-{{coord missing|New South Wales}}
+{{Coord missing|New South Wales}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2011}}
 [[Category:Culture of Sydney]]
 [[Category:Defunct nightclubs in Australia]]
-[[Category:Community-based organizations]]
+[[Category:Community organizations]]
 [[Category:Buildings and structures in Sydney]]
 [[Category:Organisations based in Sydney]]
-[[Category:Nightclubs in Australia]]
+[[Category:Nightclubs in Sydney]]
-[[Category:Drinking establishments in Australia]]
+[[Category:Licensed clubs in New South Wales]]
-[[Category:Pubs in Sydney]]