Did you know that Selina’s, the iconic home for many indie, rock and folk music artists in Sydney will soon disappear as the popular live music venue will be demolished to make way for Coogee Bay Hotel’s nearly $112-million redevelopment?
Proposal for the hotel’s revamp (DA/437/2021) is still under assessment with Randwick City Council but should the development gain approval, Selina’s will be the first to go. In its place will be a supermarket, a new hotel accomodation, and a five-storey residential building with a laneway of restaurants and cafes.
Coogee Bay Hotel owner Christopher Cheung said that there is no plan to reopen Selina’s in the new development, not even for a smaller venue. Mr Cheung said that despite the venue’s history, which hosted concerts from INXS, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, and David Bowie in the 70s through the 90s, they are moving with the times and focusing on safety first, referring to legislations that minimises alcohol consumptions.
Once upon a time, headlining a show at Selina’s gave performers the seal of approval amids the other beer barns spread out across Sydney. The space could hold about 2,500 guests, which was a big deal for musical acts on their way to stardom.
Up-and-coming musicians will no longer have such as a special space if Council signs off on the demolition. However, some residents have thumbed down the proposal due to overdevelopment, that will also block the views and sunlight for a large section of Coogee Bay Road.
