The Crystal Ballroom (also known as the Seaview Ballroom and the Wintergarden Room) was a music venue that opened in 1978 in St Kilda, an inner suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Located within the George Hotel at 125 Fitzroy Street, it quickly became the epicentre of Melbourne's post-punk scene, launching the careers of The Birthday Party, Dead Can Dance and other local groups, as well as hosting in
- Venue
- Crystal Ballroom (Melbourne)
- Town
- Victoria, AU
The Crystal Ballroom (also known as the Seaview Ballroom and the Wintergarden Room) was a music venue that opened in 1978 in St Kilda, an inner suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Located within the George Hotel at 125 Fitzroy Street, it quickly became the epicentre of Melbourne's post-punk scene, launching the careers of The Birthday Party, Dead Can Dance and other local groups, as well as hosting international acts, including The Cure, New Order and The Fall. The Ballroom occupied a Victorian age ballroom adorned with chandeliers, which inspired the venue's name. Owned by Australian rules football identity Graeme Richmond, it was initially run by music promoter Dolores San Miguel (who also ran St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel), then by Laurie Richards, founder of the Tiger Lounge in Richmond and the Jump Club in Fitzroy. In 1980, they co-ran the Ballroom and San Miguel opened on the ground floor a second performance space, the Paradise Lounge, which became a hub for Melbourne's Little Band scene. Richards also founded Crystal Ballroom Records to release 7-inch singles as giveaways at certain shows. Nigel Rennard, owner of Missing Link Records, took over as booker in 1981. San Miguel returned in 1984 and ran the Ballroom until it was forced to close in 1987 due to its reputation for drug dealing and general decrepitness. The Crystal Ballroom occupied several rooms within the George Hotel at 125 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, which was established in 1857 as the Terminus Hotel and located at the end of the original St Kilda railway line. St Kilda at the time was an affluent area and became well known over the next century as Melbourne's seaside playground, home to amusement parks and other attractions. In 1885, the hotel was rebuilt to a design by architect Harry Browse Gibbs, featuring a large dining room that would go on to serve as a ballroom. In the 1960s, the ballroom became a venue for cabaret acts such as Helen Reddy and Barry Crocker. St Kilda's glamour had begun to fade d