Greyhound Hotel
The GH Hotel, the GH | |
 Greyhound Hotel after renovation in 1937-1938 | |
| Location | St Kilda, Victoria |
|---|---|
| Type | Music venue |
| Events | Independent music Drag performance |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1853 |
| Renovated | 1936-1938 |
| Demolished | 2017 |
The Greyhound Hotel was a pub and gay bar in St Kilda, Victoria. It was known for hosting live music and drag peformances, described as the "drag capital of Melbourne".[1] Despite community outcry and the council's recommendation otherwise, the pub failed to receive heritage protection and was demolished in 2017 after operating for 164 years. The building was a two storey corner hotel, with an Art Deco/Moderne facade from it's 1936-1938 remodelling.
History
[edit]
The pub opened in 1853, with it's name coming from the sport of greyhound racing, which the pub's first licensee, John Board, was a promoter of.[2] The building was renovated extensively in 1936-38, with the construction of second storey, acquisition of neighboring land to expand the hotel, and a new Art Deco/Moderne facade.[3]
The post-war reputation of the hotel was tied to it's proximity to St Kilda's most prominent areas for sex workers.[2] In the 1980s, the venue morphed from a "working man's boozer" into an important location for drag and LBGTQ culture.[4]
In July 2016, an application to replace the Greyhound with an eight-storey apartment building was filed to City of Port Phillip council.[5][6] While the director of the venue said demolition was a "back-up plan", the venue closed for good in 5 January 2017, despite it's website still listening events as late as 20 January.[7]
The pub could have been demolished at any time, as it did not meet heritage protection for architectural significance, despite its age, because it was remodelled in the 1930s.[1] A public campaign to save the pub involving 2700 signatures caused the council to reevaluate the demolition.[1] A report commissioned by the council found the venue was significant for reflecting the history of Victorian hotels, the "changing fortunes of St Kilda", and the local LGBT community.[8][3] However, Planning Minister Richard Wynne declined to give the pub interim heritage protection despite the council's request.[1]
The pub was demolished in May 2017. After the property developer went insolvent in 2019, construction on the apartments never commenced.[9] As of 2026, the site continues to be vacant.
Crikey columnist Alan Davies said the closure of the venue was inevitable, as the business was commercially unviable with the ongoing gentrification in St Kilda.[10] The demolition has been compared to the loss of other Melbourne pubs, including the London Hotel[1] and the Corkman Irish Pub.[11] Editor of the Star Observer Matthew Wade said that bars like the Greyhound were vital for the LGBT community, allowing people to explore their sexuality in a welcoming environment.[12]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 Lucas, Clay (2017-05-11). "Wreckers drag down the Greyhound after minister refuses to rescue 164-year-old pub". The Age. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
- 1 2 Aizen, Becky. "Greyhound Hotel". skhs.org.au. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
- 1 2 Context Pty Ltd (March 2017). Greyhound Hotel Cultural Heritage Values Assessment (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2017.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ Lucas, Clay (2017-05-11). "Wreckers drag down the Greyhound after minister refuses to rescue 164-year-old pub". The Age. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
- ↑ Johnston, Chris; Dow, Aisha (2016-11-30). "Greyhound Hotel: Fears apartment developments are killing St Kilda's character". The Age. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
- ↑ "Gay bar demolition on owner's radar". Archived from the original on 2018-06-04. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
- ↑ "Closure of 'iconic' gay bar slammed". Archived from the original on 2018-05-16. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- ↑ Buckley, Nick. "The Greyhound Hotel in St Kilda Faces the Wrecking Ball I Melbourne". www.broadsheet.com.au. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
- ↑ Lindsay, Nicole (2019-10-18). "Greyhound Hotel back on the market after Steller collapse". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- ↑ Davies, Alan (2016-12-05). "Can anything save Melbourne's Greyhound Hotel?". Crikey. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- ↑ Seedy, Kimberley (15 August 2024). "Greyhound Hotel site remains empty seven years after pub was pulled down". Herald Sun.
- ↑ "Mystery surrounds the future of the former GH Hotel site in St Kilda". Domain. 2019-06-15. Archived from the original on 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
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