Beloved live music venue is set to close its doors
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Beloved live music venue is set to close its doors

Suttons House of Music recently announced that they will be closing at the end of October. Since opening as a music venue in 2014 they have hosted 600 gigs, with a wide variety of performers passing through the doors. Nearly 100 of these gigs have been played by students – and for many it was the first time playing on a professional stage. It offered a rare chance for students of all varieties to perform, including those performing classical music, stage bands, high school bands and students preparing for their VCE exams. The loss of these opportunities is unimaginable – especially for manager Dani Fry who attributes her own career to the performance opportunities she had through local venues growing up.

Since its opening the business has only grown – bigger and better than what Fry could have ever imagined. The aim of offering quality live music proved to be successful, and Suttons House of Music was one of the venues that contributed to Ballarat’s booming live music industry. The location offers quality live music in an intimate venue – and the building itself also has a long history and involvement in Australia’s music history.

The Suttons House of Music Warehouse was built in 1892 – selling music and musical instruments, and acting as a cultural centre for Ballarat and the surrounding areas. It is possible that this venue is one of the oldest remaining music emporiums in Australia.

The current Suttons House of Music has tried very hard to keep the authenticity of the venue – something that has only added to the location as a key place for musicians to come and play. The venue practically oozes music and heritage, from the outside and within. It is also a big hit with the tourists – who visit the on-site café chasing a glimpse of the rich history of Ballarat.

When Suttons House of Music closes its doors as a music venue, it seems likely that the building itself will remain empty, or be at risk of being destroyed. There is currently a petition to officially register the Sutton building as a heritage building, which has already received over 5000 signatures. The response has been described by Fry as completely incredible. If you want to help you can sign the petition and help spread the word – social outcry and opinions are one of the key factors in cases like this.

There are also several more gigs coming up before Suttons House of Music closes – so go experience them while you can. For more updates follow the Suttons House of Music Facebook page.

Sign the heritage petition via the link.

Written by Perri Digby