Sydney Selina’s classic rock hall at the Coogee Bay hotel set to be demolished
With a changing roster of rock, folk, indie and pop groups, Selina’s at the Coogee Bay Hotel is a staple of Sydney’s music scene. But sadly, earlier this week, the Daily Telegraph reported that the popular concert venue and much of the surrounding pub are facing demolition – pending local council approval for a $ 112 million development project. dollars on the site.
A reliable rock venue throughout the ’80s and’ 90s, Selina’s took off with the rise of live rock ‘n’ roll concerts in Sydney in the ’70s. Its stage was graced by David Bowie and Nirvana, and most recently hosted a Secret Killers Show in 2018 and Midnight Oil’s return on tour in 2017. But the promise of a smoko in the beer garden with its ocean views between the opening and the head of poster seem to be a distant memory.
If council approves the proposed development, the site with a capacity of 2,000 to 2,500 will be demolished to make way for a five-story residential building with 60 apartments, a 29-room hotel, a supermarket, underground parking lots and a alleyway filled with new restaurants.
“There was a time when rock and roll bands in Australia could play six or seven nights a week in a city, and particularly in Sydney,” said the former band manager and producer. Stuart Coupe said in an interview with Nine News. “It was a golden and wonderful time for rock and roll bands and rock and roll fans. And Selina’s came to embody the era of pub rock in Australia… If you were headlining at Selina, you were doing very, very well.
Owner of the place Christophe cheung told the Daily Telegraph that at this point there are no plans to reopen Selina’s in a new location: “In my plans for the future, there is no room for Selina’s. And even reducing Selina’s capacity wasn’t going to work for the place.
“Unfortunately this is coming to an end, but I’m sure there will be another version of Selina on the track. Currently, Selina has no place in the new development. We just have to evolve with the times and with new legislation.
The Coogee Bay Hotel has not currently confirmed any information about the proposed redevelopment, and the website still lists a concert planned for Selina in November with punk trio The Chats and backing Batpiss.