The Bendigo Hotel. Do you have the balls to play here?
Not too many music venues can boast a criminal history... But then again there is only one Bendigo Hotel. Despite its moniker, Bendigo Hotel is located in Collingwood, one of Melbourne's oldest suburbs and the heart of its music community. The century-old venue has a colourful history that manages to squeeze failed robberies, axe-wielding crazies, pop divas, band room riots and fisticuffs into one hundred exciting years. The building itself boasts gorgeous Art Nouveau influenced architecture by Sydney Smith & Ogg, and is now home to one of the city's liveliest music venues. The Bendy has the best rockabilly, metal, rock and punk bands ripping things up in its newly renovated band room, as well as an awesome beer garden, a kitchen serving the best burgers in Collingwood (we're not lying, we promise) and a public bar worthy for a standoff.
Timeline:
- 1871 - 1887 Corner hotel known as Collingwood Arms Hotel
- 1887 Carlton Brewery purchases hotel
- 1888 Venue renamed "Bendigo Hotel"
- 1911 Carlton Brewery purchase surrounding land, demolish existing building and replace it with the current 2-storey building designed by Sydney Smith & Ogg
- 1933 Venue appears in The Argus newspaper after a patron smashed the venue's windows after being asked to leave at closing time
- 1957 Venue mentioned in The Age newspaper on January 15 when two men attempt to rob employee Morris Guest as he was walking to bank £500 of hotel takings
- 1965 Venue mentioned in The Age newspaper on July 1 when a patron is jailed for three years and six months after throwing two glasses of beer at the female licensee of The Bendigo Hotel and assaulting a man at the venue
- 2010 Purchased by new owners with new management
- 2010 American pop star Katy Perry makes an appearance at the venue
- 2011 Venue celebrates its 100th year birthday
