Crystal Ballroom (Melbourne)

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.

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.

The band soon had a Saturday night residency at the venue; one of their January 1979 shows marked the debut live performance of Whirlywirld, a supporting act fronted by Ollie Olsen.

The hotel reopened in 1991, and in 1995–96 it was redeveloped as apartments, with the ballroom converted into a function room, and shops, cafes and bars occupying the ground level.

[6][7] Members of the Ballroom scene were also recruited for Lowenstein's post-apocalyptic video accompanying the debut single of Hunters & Collectors, "Talking to a Stranger" (1982).

[9] Other members of the Ballroom scene included fashion designers Jenny Bannister and Alannah Hill, photographers Rennie Ellis[10] and Polly Borland, writers Michel Faber, Andy Griffiths, Tobsha Learner and Sonya Voumard, television presenter Margot O'Neill and magazine editor Deborah Thomas.

[10] The Ballroom was a staging ground for Melbourne bands the Birthday Party,[11] Dead Can Dance,[12] Hunters & Collectors,[11] Crime and the City Solution, Models,[11] the Moodists,[12] the Wreckery,[13] TISM, Paul Kelly and the Dots, Cosmic Psychos[13] and Venom P. Stinger.

It also showcased the following interstate groups: INXS,[11] Laughing Clowns,[12] Radio Birdman, Sunnyboys,[13] the Celibate Rifles,[13] Beasts of Bourbon,[12] X,[13] Hoodoo Gurus, Died Pretty,[14] SPK, the Reels,[15] Rose Tattoo, Icehouse,[15] Hard-Ons, Pel Mel, XL Capris, Midnight Oil[11] and the Church[15] from Sydney; the Go-Betweens,[12] the Saints[15] and the Riptides from Brisbane; the Scientists,[13] the Stems and the Triffids[13] from Perth; the Angels[15] and Cold Chisel[15] from Adelaide; and Tactics from Canberra.

Other international bands who played there include Simple Minds,[12] the Cure,[11] Magazine,[12] Echo & the Bunnymen, the Psychedelic Furs, the Stranglers, XTC,[12] the Teardrop Explodes, the Residents,[12] Snakefinger, Squeeze, Public Image Ltd, New Order, the Gun Club, John Cooper Clarke, Dr. Feelgood, the Human League, John Cale, Violent Femmes, Iggy Pop,[11] the Fall,[12] Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers and Dead Kennedys.

Live Ballroom recordings have appeared on official releases by acts such as The Moodists, Crime and the City Solution, Radio Birdman, Iggy Pop and New Race.

The 1986 punk film Dogs in Space, directed by Richard Lowenstein and starring Michael Hutchence, is partially shot and set in the Crystal Ballroom, and features many musicians, artists and others who frequented the venue.