Industry [G-L]

Venues, Businesses, Community Groups and Industry Opportunities

All entries are for the Armidale district unless otherwise noted.

 

THE GALLOPING GRAPE

aka Galloping Grape Resturant and Bistro / Galloping Grape Wine Bar

Located on the first floor of a building at the corner of Beardy and Jessie streets (113 Jessie Street), the Galloping Grape wine bar served as a venue for intimate live music during the 1970s and 1980s. It was ideally suited to solo performers or small ensembles playing anything from cocktail lounge music to buss/folk and jazz. Due to the nature of the establishment most of the musicians booked were locally-based. Advertisements placed in the University of New England’s student magazine Neucleus also indicates that ‘The Grape’ provided live entertainment Tuesday to Sundays during the late 1970s and early 1980s. One of the groups to regularly play the ‘Grape’ in 1976, for example, was the Armidale Bush Band.

The Galloping Grape is now an Italian restaurant and bar known as the Red Grapevine.

Sources: Clay Djubal (2009) • Neucleus (advertisements, 1979) • Rod Noble (interview, 2010).  Image: Neucleus 3 Sept. (1979), p. 3 (advertisement)

 

IMPERIAL HOTEL

aka Impies

Imperial Hotel †

(1889 – )

Built in 1889 on the site of the old Court House Hotel (corner of Faulkner and Beardy streets), is recognised for its lavish Victorian cast-iron balcony. the Imperial Hotel’s first publican, John Kickham, had the entrepreneural acumen to initiate a transport service to and from the railway station.  

Although the Armidale City Council controversially attempted on numerous occasions during the 1950s and 1960s to have the hotel’s verandah and posts removed (other similarly designed premises in the city precinct were also targeted), this action failed due to the involvement of the National Trust and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects in 1969. The involvement of these two organisations, combined with widespread support throughout the local community, eventually led to the CBD precint being declared the Armidale Conservation Area in 1975.

Imperial Hotel, Armidale (1970s)

During the 1970s and early-mid 1980s the Imperial Hotel was one of Armidale’s leading live music venues, and arguably the strongest supporter of local bands. This commitment to live music is believed to have been started by publican Vic Snell in the late 1960s. By 1970 the policy was to have a live band on Friday nights with piped music on Saturdays. Although the entertainment area could hold a maximum of only around 300 people (and the stage was quite low), this often worked to create a more condusive ’rock’ atmosphere.  Some of the more widely known touring bands to play the venue during this period included: Kevin Borich Express, Goldrush, John Farnham, The Zarsoff Brothers, The Numbers, The Saints, Matt Taylor (ex-Chain), Mother Goose and Tommy and Phil Emmanuel. One of the Emmanuel brothers’ gigs saw Tommy playing drums. John Farnham’s career in the late 1970s was very much in decline and he drew only about twenty people when he appeared in Armidale around that time. One of the most popular ’Impies bands’ during the 1980s was Lismore-based Idol Minds.

Most local bands eventually played the pub if they got their act together. Among the more popular bands to play there regularly were Ukiah, Constable Green and Moore and The Inmates  (1970s), Kordz, Shoot the DJ, Helga und der Blitzkrieg and The Zip (1980s). One of Shoot the DJ’s most memorable Impies gigs saw the band set the entire stage up to look like an apartment (complete with dining table and chairs, a sofa, cupboards, paintings, plants and a double bed amonsg other things) and then gradually invited friends up on stage to create a party. 

The Imperial Hotel was extensively renovated in the mid-late 1980s, although no changes to its outside appearance were allowed. One of the most significant internal changes, however, was the redevelopment of the entertainment section into a dining area, thus ending the pub’s once significant association with live music. 

Sources: Armidale Self-Guided Heritage Walk (online) • Clay Djubal (2009) • Armidale Dumaresq Shire Council (Heritage File, 12301 - online) • “The Drinkingman’s Guide to Armidale” Neucleus 23 Sept. (1970), p. 10 • Fran Stahlut (correspondance, 2009).  Images: Top photo courtesy of Gday Pubs (online) • Black and white photo by Roy Evans, courtesy of Armidale and District Historical Society 11 (1968), p. 36 • Advertisement from Neucleus 17 Aug. (1977), p. 10.

 

INVERELL RSM CLUB

(1972 – )

An Inverell sub-branch of the RSL was  established in 1919 as part of the Returned Service’s League movement which began in Australia in 1916 (the League was first called The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia).  The Inverell Returned Servicemen’s Memorial Club (RSM) was built in 1972.

Inverell RSM Auditorium

Live entertainment was invaribaly offered on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the 1970s and 1980s period. The bands and performers ranged from typical club (middle-of-the-road) shows to rock bands from the Northern Tablelands as well as nationally touring acts. The club was has also been popular as a venue for school dances and formals with the  two local high schools – Inverell (1937) and Macintyre (1973). 

Source: Clay Djubal (2009) • Inverell RSM Club website (online). Images: Photo courtesy of Austainment.com

 

LANE MUSIC CO

(ca.  1976 – late 1980s)

Situated in the Armidale Mall, Lane Music Co was owned and operated by brothers Ron (Rocky) and Robert (Bob) Lane. Having been involved in the local music industry as musicians for a number of years their intention in establishing the music was to offer a specialist ‘rock industry’ service to local bands and musicians that had until then not been available. The brother’s only real competition in this respect was Newell’s Music Centre (also located in the Mall), but that store had traditionally focused on the city’s classical and school music market. In addition to an extensive range of electric guitars, basses, drums, synths and miscellaneous equipment, the Lanes’ also offered a PA and lighting hire service.

During the late 1970s the store advertised extensively in the University of New England’s student magazine, Neucleus, in an attempt to target the city’s increasing expanding student market. The store also provided employment opportunities for a number of local musicians. In the early to mid-1980s, for example, the Lane’s brought in former Constable Green and Moore/Chooks drummer Brian ‘Lanky’ Moore to help manage the business.

Sources: Clay Djubal (2009) • Neucleus (advertisements, 1977-1980).

 

† Copyright for this image has either not been ascertained or we have been unable to locate the owner . If you are the copyright owner and want the image removed please contact this website.