Ask A librarian: Alternative reality - St Kilda and its music scene in the 1970s and 80s

[@MsBonzodog]

Great stuff! Many a Friday and Saturday night was spent in St Kilda - Topolinos for dinner followed by a gig at the Prince of Wales or The Venue. Lovely hearing your memories.

[@lyndylou3642]

I loved St Kilda and the scene in the early 1980's! I was a bit late to the party, but was glad to be part of it.

[@kochstevens3210]

my first gig ever i was only about 16 in the early 80's. 'a roadie" for the band China.. at Bananas. also went to, Bojangles, Earls Court the Venue, The Palace, The Espy & so many others.. there was something special about St kilda..

[@andrewwmitchell]

I saw the Violent Femmes at The Palace in 1990(?), and spent a lot of time at The Espy but can't remember any specific bands.

[@kochstevens3210]

@@andrewwmitchell ye i seen some bands at the espy too.. was fun to b young & in that scene at that time.. some great memories that will last us a lifetime.. cheers..

[@TAGG-TV]

Thanks for the mention!

[@donnagough5349]

Brings back memories of fun times with friends. Great bands too.😊

[@markhowie6564]

So many ciders (etc...) at the Seaview!

[@craigwilson4439]

Hell yeah, those bloody cider bottles. Talk about value for your money.

[@debrafleur5404]

Bananas was our go to late at night Saw some amazing bands and the legendary Jimmy Barnes just b4 he hit the big time! Fabulous days of our precious youth! ❤️

[@CarolynLawrie-g8d]

This is fantastic!

[@-TheJewel-]

An era that broke the Harsh Victorian era...it was a brilliant time to be alive❤❤❤❤Thankyou to all in The Punk Underground ...amazing warriors

[@Occult_Gibbet]

Amazing !

[@Dave_Sisson]

When I was seriously underage, I manged to see a gig at the Seaview not long before it was closed down. I was so young, naive and new to the adult world that I didn't realise how seedy and strange the atmosphere and people were. It was only a few years later when I was a semi-adult that I realised that I'd seen the tail end of a unique venue and its culture.

[@craigwilson4439]

Yeah, you witnessed something that can't happen again. I was lucky enough to play there in 86 or 87 in a band called The Romeos, we supported Vicious Circle. A mix of psychobillies among the punks. A bloody good era.

[@vinorob]

The same. Went to Brighton Rd Primary in the 70's and experienced the same growing up in the area

[@rowbearly6128]

Me and my mate were underage in the Prince when the cops raided a gravies gig, young cop asked us if we had ID. We laughed and said "what do you reckon? " He kind of apologized and let us go. Then we bought a slab to take home. Then the cops took it. Ah, the good old days.

[@ricknovak7574]

Loads of my friends in the early 80,s Pow and the ballroom, John Barely Corn, and the esplanades.great places .The terminus..

[@craigwilson4439]

The ever beautiful Mandy with her blonde Mo hawk in amongst the photos. One amazing woman. Last time I saw her was years ago and she was living in London.

[@pattyanderson9671]

The George ... loved it way back

[@markcarroll9792]

St Kilda Rules 🎉❤

[@chezzachezza7325]

Not anymore 😢

[@mebeme007]

@@chezzachezza7325 Subjective opinion.

[@phil6025]

Won't ever forget Seaview Ballroom, probably '81, at an Uncanny X-Men show, with these enormous beach balls getting tossed around over the crowd. It was great!

[@douglasbanks3318]

I lived in Ruskin st Earlwood at this time ,along with being a light Guy for Mushroom records at the same time ,working all around Melb and Sydney ,great music and great fashion back then ,

[@181960will]

Lots of good times...

[@lindahunter1969]

Nice xo

[@derhampaul2182]

It hasn't even started yet and I'm scared 😳

[@bigred8438]

The first l remember of Ackland street and Fitzroy Street was earlier in the 1970's when it was run by sharpies and skinheads. It was a dangerous place to go if you were a young hippie or peacenik, as was nearby Windsor and Prahran, all of which seemed to be controlled by them, until they settled down and had families, and mellowed, then the punks moved in. You couldn't go to these places (same with Franjston and the Frankston train line), because you could get bashed. I guy l knew was thrown off a moving train onto the platform on the Frankston line. Thankfully he survived with a few broken bones.

[@zaraustra]

The George Hotel was built in 1857. Now fir a 2 bed apartment in it will set you back a cool 2 million dollars.

[@mebeme007]

Back when people moved in next door to pubs and clubs and didn't complain about the loud music, which then forced the venue owners to have to quieten down and then end up having to close up altogether. It's sad when such people have ruined Melbourne's great live gig scene, particularly in the suburbs,

[@Hudsonian73]

I should have never moved out

[@rodneyspittall975]

Triple Ska nights :)

[@mondop5270]

Every where had pubs, bands etc... sure some bands were only around in this era but others came before and others after... theres still gr8 bands, punk bands etc now! Stkilda was where ya went to experience seedy shiite. Saw some good bands there but i saw great bands in collingwood, fitzroy etc etc etc... this is more just a reminiscent area doco- all these bands played evertwhere. Stkilda just was a poor, socio economic, scungy, junkie, prossie, punk, homeless, squatty, trannie, criminal etc area...

[@Noelzsazsa]

Only two kinda people that go anywhere near St Kilda junkies and sex pests i keep well away

[@derhampaul2182]

It was just pictures of shit

[@TimeTraveller010]

Were you born before this scene emerged and never had a chance to see a live band, attend an arts exhibition, or attend a festival, in St Kilda or Fitzroy? You missed nothing. Were you born after this scene reached its zenith, and it fizzled out before you experienced any of the abovementioned events, as concomitance to youth? You gained nothing, you missed nothing. Go overseas to Europe, Asia or the U.S. One is highly appreciated if one bears an 'unpronounceable surname'. Case Closed!

[@mondop5270]

Eh?

[@derhampaul1117]

I feel depressed watching this

[@derhampaul1117]

Junkie town

[@mebeme007]

Plenty of them in many suburbs and towns right across Australia, even around the world. And like most of those places, there is some good to be seen and found as well. It all depends on how people choose to view things in the world, I guess.

[@purebloodheretic4682]

Won't you take me to.........😉