Another pub icon of Sydney’s live music scene will close – to reopen as a breeding ground for musicians and performers.
One of the original ‘sticky carpet’ pubs, hosting a myriad of bands and kick-starting countless careers in music, the Lansdowne Hotel has been sold by Oscars Hotels to the Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA).
AMPA has lodged plans with City of Sydney to transform the tired building into a residence, performance and studio for 200 students in the pursuit of futures in dance, theatre and music.
Located close to Central station, the pub has long been the hero of inner-Sydney’s live music scene, and joins the casualty list with the likes of the Sandringham, Phoenician Club, and the now re-purposed Annandale Hotel, also owned by Oscars.
A fire in early 2013 resulting from a dispute between two upstairs tenants caused significant damage and closed the venue for several months. After a troubled period it was sold to Oscars last year.
Built in the 20s, it has operated as a pub since 1933 and is listed on the State heritage register as an “important contribution to the streetscape of City Road in the vicinity of Broadway”.
The pub could close as soon as the end of August, with AMPA to take possession shortly thereafter.
PubTIC spoke with representatives of Oscars Hotels, who declined to comment.
