Just weeks after Sydney’s vibrant Mardi Gras celebrations painted Oxford Street in a kaleidoscope of colours, a venue long considered a cornerstone of the city’s queer community has closed its doors. Stonewall Hotel, a cultural icon for 28 years, entered voluntary administration on Monday, marking a significant shift for the heart of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ scene.
The closure comes a mere nine months after the venue was acquired by US-based Pride Holdings Group, who had optimistically declared it the “number one LGBTQ entertainment complex in Australia.” Craig Bell, the owner, conveyed his sadness and the difficulty of the decision in a social media statement, acknowledging that while “change is constant, Stonewall’s story is far from over.” He indicated that the hotel’s “next chapter” would unfold at its newly opened sister venue in Newtown, which welcomed patrons in early March.
The news has sent ripples of shock through the community. Tim Millgate, a drag performer and Oxford Street local known for his persona Tina Turnon, expressed his surprise to the ABC. “It was one of the first queer spaces that we went to, you know, growing up… and as teenagers it was a safe space… a community hub,” he recalled. “All walks of life were welcomed at Stonewall.” His sentiment highlights the deep personal connections many held with the establishment, viewing it as more than just a bar, but a vital sanctuary and meeting point.
The Shifting Landscape of Oxford Street
Stonewall Hotel’s closure is not an isolated incident; it’s the latest in a series of queer establishments that have shuttered on Oxford Street. The area has been profoundly impacted by a confluence of factors, including the lingering effects of Sydney’s 2014 lockout laws and extensive urban development. Last year, ARQ, once Sydney’s largest gay nightclub, closed its doors after a 26-year run on the strip. This follows the closure of beloved retailers like Darlinghurst Bookstore and Aussie Boys, both of which had served the LGBTQIA+ community for decades.
Garry Wotherspoon, a historian and board member of Sydney’s queer history museum Qtopia, lamented the departure of a venue with such a historically resonant name. The original Stonewall Inn riots in New York City in 1969 were a pivotal moment in the fight for gay rights, a struggle mirrored in Australia, notably by the “78ers” who marched through Oxford Street. This march, despite ending in police brutality, catalysed the development of Australia’s modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement and laid the groundwork for what is now Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Mr. Wotherspoon, himself a 78er, reminisced about Oxford Street’s past, describing it as an “easy, closer, cheaper place for our emerging communities to establish themselves.” However, he pointed out a crucial trade-off: the very success of the precinct led to escalating rents. “If a business on Oxford Street does well… the rent goes up and up and up and at a certain point, you’re not making any money, you’re just simply paying your rent off,” he explained. “That’s part of the reason. I think many of the places on the south side of Oxford Street are basically empty.” He believes the area still possesses a “divergent cultural diversity” and could be revitalised, but cautioned, “But in a very different way to what it once was… We can’t recreate the past.”
Sydney’s Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, expressed her shock and disappointment, acknowledging Stonewall’s integral role as “part of the fabric of Oxford Street.” Cr. Moore highlighted ongoing efforts to revitalise the precinct, including the NSW government’s designation of Oxford Street as a special entertainment precinct. This initiative aims to ease sound restrictions and extend trading hours, fostering a more conducive environment for businesses. The council, she added, is committed to supporting investments that will ensure Oxford Street’s long-term viability. “The impact of lockouts and lockdowns, change in demographics and new cost-of-living pressures, continues to make running a hospitality venue incredibly challenging, but I am confident in Oxford Street’s future,” she stated.
Despite these efforts, a discernible cultural shift has occurred. While venues like Universal and Palms still draw significant crowds, many in the LGBTIQ+ community report a move towards alternative spaces. Scott Ridley, who met his partner at Stonewall two decades ago, feels Oxford Street has “lost its shine” and now presents a more “sanitised” iteration of LGBTQIA+ culture. As president of the Harbour City Bears, a community group for men who may not fit conventional beauty standards, Ridley noted their recent relocation of weekly meetings to nearby Kings Cross following a negative experience at an Oxford Street venue. He believes the area has undergone gentrification, with larger venues now seemingly prioritising events like hens’ parties over community gatherings. “Oxford Street has gone completely corporate… could you imagine if someone opened a leather bar there now?” he mused.
Filling the Void in Sydney’s Queer Nightlife
For Tilly Lawless, a Sydney-based sex worker and author who has frequented Oxford Street for over a decade, the most dynamic queer events often lack a fixed address. “They are parties that have a pop-up every now and again,” she commented. Lawless also observed that many Oxford Street venues haven’t always been the most welcoming to women, and while queer parties tend to attract a more diverse crowd, the overall landscape is evolving. Nevertheless, she remains cautiously optimistic about Oxford Street’s future, recognising the continued value of its venues, particularly for younger individuals exploring their identity. “It’s important that those venues still exist, because I think it’s important that when, for example, people from a country area or people who are young and have never been out before coming to Sydney, that they can find a gay club to go to,” she emphasised.
Responding to what he perceived as a void in Sydney’s nightlife, Peter Shopovski founded House of Mince, a collective dedicated to queer dance parties. “There wasn’t a space that fully reflected the kind of music, energy and community we wanted to be part of, so we created it ourselves,” he explained. After nearly 14 years of hosting parties, House of Mince has experienced a surge in popularity, including pop-up events at Sydney’s VIVID festival. Shopovski, now the programming director at Oxford Street’s Colombian Hotel, sees a future where events and collectives are as crucial as established venues, envisioning a symbiotic relationship between the two. “For me, it’s about creating consistency and giving people a reason to come back regularly, while also supporting artists and building something that feels connected to the community,” he stated. “That kind of structure has worked well in other cities, and I think it’s something Sydney can benefit from as it rebuilds its nightlife.”
