RIP Girls, gays and theys in citywide mourning following Stonewall’s sudden slide into voluntary administration
BY: Kartya Vucetic
In news that has quite literally rocked the Eastern suburbs to its core, iconic Sydney gay bar Stonewall has entered voluntary administration. In doing so, it’s sent the city’s girls, gays and theys into a state of collective grief.
The venue, which has been long considered one of Sydney’s most recognisable LGBTQIA+ institutions, has been a mainstay of the strip for 28 years. For many, it’s less bar, more rite of passage. It’s the kind of place you inevitably end up at some point in your early (or late) 20s, whether by choice or by sheer gravitational pull of Oxford Street.
You can’t tell me this isn’t the best club in Sydney | Image: Stonewall
Known for its multi-level chaos, Stonewall’s infamous third-floor cages have played host to generations of questionable decisions, spontaneous dance routines and the occasional main character moment. If those walls could talk, frankly, we’d all be in trouble.
While details around the administration are still emerging, the move signals a worrying moment for Sydney’s nightlife. Particularly along Oxford Street, which has seen no shortage of closures and identity crises in recent years.
For now, it’s unclear what this means for the future of the venue. But one thing’s certain: losing a space like Stonewall would mark the end of an era for Sydney’s queer community, and for the city’s nightlife more broadly.
