There could be hope yet for one of Melbourne’s most beloved heavy music institutions, with a new crowdfunding campaign launched to help keep The Bendigo Hotel alive beyond the end of its current chapter.
Earlier this month, it was announced that current operators The Mill Brewery would wrap up their tenure at the iconic Collingwood venue at the end of August, two years after stepping in when The Bendi was previously facing permanent closure.
Now, a new group is hoping to take the reins – and they’ve got some pretty ambitious plans for its future.
New Team Launches Campaign To Keep The Bendi Alive
The crew behind Galaxy Music have revealed they’re working to purchase the Bendigo Hotel business, launching a crowdfunding campaign to help cover the significant costs involved in getting the next era of the venue off the ground.
According to the campaign, the prospective new operators already have enough money between them to cover the $200,000 business purchase, but are seeking community support to help meet a stack of additional costs – and transform the building into something bigger than a traditional pub and live music venue.
“We want to be part of turning that tide together, for future generations,” organisers write, pointing to the growing number of live music venues that have disappeared across Melbourne in recent years.
The idea apparently began while Galaxy Music was searching for a communal home for its label, network and students.
“When someone said ‘Wouldn’t it be great if there was a Galaxy Bar or venue?’ it was THE lightbulb moment that refused to dim,” the campaign reads.
After spotting The Bendi for sale, the team realised the building offered not only an established live music business downstairs, but a collection of currently unused rooms upstairs that could potentially become a much broader creative hub.
Under the proposed new model, The Bendigo Hotel would continue operating as a live music venue, with organisers pledging to build on its existing legacy and reputation.
And, importantly for the generations of Melbourne riff-lords who have called the place home: hardcore and metal aren’t going anywhere.
The team does, however, hope to broaden the musical offering by working with promoters across genres including techno, R&B and disco, while extending the venue’s opening hours.
Upstairs, the plan is to create a collaborative space for Melbourne’s music and creative communities, with rooms fitted out as a recording studio, rehearsal room, education space, photography/media room and co-working office.
The organisers also hope to use the new-look Bendi to support charities, not-for-profits, youth development and music education, envisioning a space where emerging musicians could potentially learn everything from songwriting and singing to registering with APRA AMCOS, rehearsing, recording demos and ultimately performing onstage – all under the same roof.
“Music is the soundtrack to change,” the campaign reads. “And at the Bendigo, we will turn that up really loud.”
The Bendi Crowdfunding Campaign Has A Big Hill To Climb
There is, however, quite a price tag attached to the vision.
Galaxy Music has published a detailed budget outlining the costs involved, including the $200,000 business purchase, a $38,000 premises bond, annual rent of more than $165,000, council rates, insurance, legal fees, existing stock and equipment leasing.
They’re also budgeting another $70,000 for renovations required to realise the creative-hub vision upstairs.
“Financially, we’ve got the bare minimum to get the doors open between us,” organisers explain. “But we really need support if we want to deliver the very best experience.”
The campaign stresses that the crowdfunding push isn’t simply about subsidising the nightly operation of the pub, but helping establish the expanded community and creative facilities the team hopes to build around it.
The development comes as The Mill Brewery prepares to farewell The Bendi after two years at the helm.
Its final event will take place on Saturday, 29th August, bringing its chapter at the storied Johnston Street venue to an end.
The Mill stepped in to operate the venue in 2024 after The Bendigo Hotel was itself facing permanent closure, helping keep one of Melbourne’s most important small heavy music rooms alive for another two years.
Now, it seems there may be another crew waiting in the wings to write The Bendi’s next chapter -provided they can rally enough support to make their considerably bigger vision a reality.
If you want to show your support, you can donate to the campaign here.
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