Corner Hotel, Richmond
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| The Corner Hotel | |
| Established | 1871 |
|---|---|
| Address | 57 Swan St, Richmond, VIC 3121. |
The Corner Hotel in Richmond, Victoria is one of Melbourne's most popular and respected medium-sized rock venues. In 2005 it celebrated its 10th anniversary with the current owners (who also own the Northcote Social Club), however it has been a pub since the 1800s and a live music venue since the 1940s. It is famed for its excellent beer garden.
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[edit] History
In 1871 David and Jane McCormick obtained the first proper liquor licence for the pub. It thrived because of its close proximity to the Richmond railway station. In 1881 it was renovated by William Malone, with upgrades to the accommodation being put in place as well as better quality liquor. Malone owned the pub until 1895. From 1895 until 1929 the pub changed hands no less than seven times. In 1929 it was taken over by Nelly O'Connor and her husband, up until 1935.
It is thought to have started hosting live music during the 1940s jazz era. During the 1950s it was owned by the Melbourne Cooperative Brewing Company, an offshoot of Carlton and United Breweries. This was the peak time of an Australian custom known as the six o'clock swill, where venues were forced to stop serving alcohol at 6pm. This law was a hangover from World War I and operated from 1915 until it was abolished in the mid 1960s (1966 in Victoria). It meant that workers would rush to pubs after finishing work and consume as much alcohol as possible before the bar closed.
In 1966 the pub was demolished and rebuilt in a slightly shifted location, to make space for the widening of the railway lines.
From 1985 to 1987 it was co-owned by Wayne Gale and Joe and Frank Gualtieri. In 1987 the Gualtieri brothers sold their share of the business to Gale. The business was struggling, even as the pub got its biggest break with a show by Mick Jagger in 1988. By 1993 the venue was derelict, with flooding damage and vandalism. New owner Michael Geoghagen spent a year renovating and attempting to attract bands back.
In 1995 current owners Tim Northeast and Matt Everitt took over and made a host of further improvements and renovations. In 2005, they celebrated their 10th anniversary of owning the pub as it remains an iconic and respected institution of the local music scene.
[edit] Bands that have played there
During 1988 Mick Jagger toured Australia, supporting his solo album Primitive Cool. He played five stadium shows at the (now) Rod Laver Arena, but also wanted to perform an unannounced gig at a grungy pub. News of the "secret" gig was hinted at in the street press magazine Inpress and over 1000 people turned up to a venue only licensed to hold 700. The police attended and women fainted, but the show went ahead. The gig is now part of local legend.
Pink Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour also played an unannounced show at the venue in 1988, with all-star band The Fishermen.
Local band TISM have played there frequently, including during their "motormower phase", where they would run lawnmowers on the stage. After one gig in 1988, one of the mowers was stolen from their bandroom.
The late Elliott Smith played his only Australian tour show at the Corner Hotel in 1999. Joe Strummer of The Clash played one of his last tours there before passing away in 2000.
Crowded House played one of their last gigs there, before their famous farewell show at the Opera House.
Experimental jazz band The Necks have played the most Corner Hotel gigs with the current owners, having played there every year from 1997 to 2005.
U2 filmed the video for "Window in the Skies" at The Corner on 20 November 2006.
[edit] Selected international acts
[edit] Selected Australian acts
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[edit] References
House of rock, Chris Johnston. Published in theage (melbourne) magazine, Issue 13, November 2005.
