Objective: Rewrite the content inside “
Another light just went out on Australia’s live music map.
Beloved Sunshine Coast venue The Station has announced it will close its doors for good, with its final show taking place last night, January 2nd, with Pete Murray – a bittersweet send-off for a space that became a genuine lifeline for touring artists in the region.
“We are over $2 million in investment and yet to actually pay ourselves a cent.”
For punters north of Brisbane, The Station wasn’t just another room with a stage. It was proof that regional Australia still wanted live music, loud and local.
From NightQuarter To Now: A Tough Road
The venue’s story has been turbulent from the jump. It first opened in November 2020 as NightQuarter, a relocated Gold Coast precinct blending street food, markets and gigs. Two brutal years later, it folded under the weight of pandemic shutdowns and extreme weather.
Local business owners Chris and Lauren Hignett stepped in in 2022, reopening the site as The Station alongside the Alley Oops skate park after investing more than $1 million into the redevelopment. But the battle never stopped. The skate park and retail space closed in October 2024, leaving the live venue to fight on alone.
And fight it did – until now.
“This Isn’t The Business To Be In If You Want Money”
In a statement to our friends at The Music, Chris Hignett said he and Lauren will be working with accountants in the coming months to meet all outstanding obligations, including staff entitlements:
“Lauren and I take our liabilities seriously and will be spending the next few weeks and months with our accountants to work through how we meet these obligations in full. We want to thank our community for the hundreds of messages of support. Live music is an important part of communities and it needs support from all of us to ensure it continues.”
Earlier this year, Hignett laid bare just how dire things had become, revealing the venue needed to generate $2.5 million annually – that’s roughly 80,000 punters a year – just to break even.
“This year we’ll be around 60,000. Still a loss but half of last year’s,” he wrote, continuing: “We are over $2 million in investment and yet to actually pay ourselves a cent. We have sold our family home, we are renting and working 7 days a week. If it was about a money grab, trust me this ain’t the business to be in.”
A Symptom Of A Bigger Problem
Most upcoming Station shows are being rebooked at other Sunshine Coast venues, but the loss leaves a gaping hole in the region’s touring circuit – and it’s reignited the uncomfortable conversation around the sustainability of medium-sized venues in Australia.
Rising costs. Declining ticket sales. Fewer touring artists. No meaningful structural support.
As one former critic of the venue commented on socials after the closure:
“I’m angry because I spent too long punching down instead of looking up. We’ve now lost two major venues and everyone with real power gets to stay clean… No neat ending. No solutions here. Just the sinking feeling that we’ll be back here in a few years talking about the next venue that ‘just couldn’t make it’.”
For now, the Sunshine Coast has lost another stage – and Australia has lost another reminder that without serious change, this story isn’t over. It’s only getting worse.
Further Reading
REPORT: Sydney’s Agincourt Hotel Sold, All Live Music Cancelled
“The Australian Music Industry Is Parasitic”: Private Function Announce Their Break-Up
Pete Murray Announces New Album ‘Longing’, Shares ‘Amy’
In an unfortunate turn of events for Australia’s live music scene, the cherished Sunshine Coast venue, The Station, has announced its permanent closure. The farewell took place on January 2nd, featuring a sentimental performance by renowned artist Pete Murray, marking the end of an important chapter for local live music enthusiasts and touring artists alike.
The Cost of Passion: Over $2 Million Invested
For many music lovers north of Brisbane, The Station was more than just another venue, it was a beacon of hope and support for local talent. The owners, Chris and Lauren Hignett, shared the harsh reality of investing over $2 million into the venue without ever receiving a paycheck themselves, indicating a deep-seated passion for promoting live music in Australia.
A Rocky History: From NightQuarter to Its Demise
The struggles of The Station began long before its closure. Initially opened as NightQuarter in November 2020, the venue was envisioned as a dynamic hub for street food, markets, and live performances. However, the challenges posed by the pandemic and inclement weather forced NightQuarter to close its doors just two years later.
In 2022, Chris and Lauren breathed new life into the space, rebranding it as The Station and pouring more than $1 million into its redevelopment, alongside the Alley Oops skate park. Unfortunately, the skate park later ceased operations in October 2024, leaving The Station to soldier on alone amidst ongoing financial struggles.
The Financial Strain of Running a Venue
In a candid statement, Chris Hignett revealed the staggering financial expectations placed upon The Station, requiring approximately $2.5 million annually—equating to around 80,000 punters—merely to break even. This year, they projected attendance at only 60,000, demonstrating the uphill battle that venues like The Station face.
Chris and Lauren’s commitment to their community remains evident as they continue to work with accountants to address outstanding liabilities, emphasizing that their priority has always been the staff’s welfare and the desire to keep live music thriving.
The Loss and Its Wider Implications
The closure of The Station leaves a significant void in the Sunshine Coast’s touring circuit and reignites concerns regarding the sustainability of medium-sized venues across Australia. Many upcoming shows are now being relocated to other venues in the area, thus highlighting the fragility of the music industry in regional Australia.
Experts point to various factors contributing to this troubling trend: rising operational costs, dwindling ticket sales, an increasing number of artists choosing not to tour, and a lack of structural support from governing bodies. The feeling among many is that without timely intervention, this pattern of venue closures will continue.
As noted by a former critic on social media: “I’m angry because I spent too long punching down instead of looking up. We’ve now lost two major venues and everyone with real power gets to stay clean.” This statement reflects a growing frustration within the community regarding the loss of spaces that foster local talent while also creating a connection between artists and fans.
A Call to Action for the Future
As Australia grieves the loss of yet another beloved venue, it becomes clear that structural changes are necessary to protect the future of live music. The Station served as a reminder of the critical role these spaces play in enhancing community engagement and cultural expression through music.
In conclusion, The Station’s closure is not simply a loss for the Sunshine Coast, but a warning sign for the wider music industry in Australia. It sends a strong message that without serious change, the narrative of struggling venues could become even more prevalent.
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