The d.i.y punk scene of Melbourne took another hit this week......Blackgoat closed its doors last year. Hotshots is on the brink of closure and in a drastic electrical fire, essendon squat (7 years strong) is now gone.
Everyone survived the late nightfire but are now rendered homeless.
A regular fixture for gigs and band practices, not to mention the home and crash spot for many is now gone, along with thebelongings of some of the inhabitants.
It was facing eviction,has been for many months, but this was is still an unfortunate eventfor all involved (except maybe the ever looming property developers).
It served as a home for many travelling punk and several migrating kiwis, and a stepping stone for many bands needing affordable (free) rehersal
Thank fuck everyone got out,but its a sad day.
I had many a good time there, living rent free for two years with a bunch of g.c's being the highlight.
It was famous for being inhabited by 90% kiwis, that and un pc and somewhat dimwitted drunkenness..... hand in hand i guess.
R.i.p
https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.her ... d-optus-au
End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
- dave-brown
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Re: End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
Sorry to hear Dave, glad everyone is ok.
There's more to life than thrash
So let's get really smashed
and do the heavy head dance
https://www.facebook.com/paekakarikipunkshow/
So let's get really smashed
and do the heavy head dance
https://www.facebook.com/paekakarikipunkshow/
Re: End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
That's a real bummer
http://hungjurynz.bandcamp.com/
http://www.discogs.com/user/pertHJ
Drinking beers, hell yeah!! Smoking dope, KICK TO THROAT!!
http://www.discogs.com/user/pertHJ
Drinking beers, hell yeah!! Smoking dope, KICK TO THROAT!!
Re: End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
yeah, its always sad to hear shit like this, no matter where it is. Sounds like it would've been a cool place to hang out, especially for a kiwi just arriving in Australia.
Re: End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
i just heard about another squat in london being shut down too

"Look how happy he is"
- Dixon Cider A.C.
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Re: End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
End of an era alright. Had some fuckin good times at that pad. Pretty sobering to think how easily it could've happened any time I stayed in that front room, absolute fluke nobody burned alive.
Heard one of that cats didn't make it out? Total fuckin bummer.
Heard one of that cats didn't make it out? Total fuckin bummer.
- dave-brown
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Re: End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
Dixon Cider A.C. wrote:Heard one of that cats didn't make it out? Total fuckin bummer.
Yeah one of the two cats didnt make it. Which is a massive bummer to her owner.
Theres no rumours of attemting to lay any criminal charges which is a relief.
The sales at the BWS bottle shop around the corner are sure to plummet. Place will probably close down. Guys there bloody loved us. Used to keep the out of date stock aside for us and all.
Ahwell.
There were heaps of sweet shows at tha place and it will be sorely missed . NO Class is one of many whom wouldnt of existed without that space to jam and test waters with live shows
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Re: End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
Bummer to hear indeed. Like you said though glad everyone is safe and not toast. Poor kitty though!
Re: End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
Damn. Were you living there currently Dave?
- dave-brown
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Re: End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
aerozol wrote:Damn. Were you living there currently Dave?
Nah I moved out about 6 months ago aye.
Re: End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
This sucks hard. I only enjoyed the hospitality of this place for one night, but it was a fuckin rad squat and I was looking forward to maybe visiting it again soon. The music in the kitchen included Fortress and the spare bunk I crashed on came complete with a porn mag and unopened connie. All the mod cons!
Dave was Josh still living there at the time of the fire? That house was a beautiful building too.
Dave was Josh still living there at the time of the fire? That house was a beautiful building too.

- dave-brown
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Re: End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
Drax wrote:This sucks hard. I only enjoyed the hospitality of this place for one night, but it was a fuckin rad squat and I was looking forward to maybe visiting it again soon. The music in the kitchen included Fortress and the spare bunk I crashed on came complete with a porn mag and unopened connie. All the mod cons!
Dave was Josh still living there at the time of the fire? That house was a beautiful building too.
Hah. Fortress, definately the only punk house in melbourne u could listen to that wihout being shot. Nah bro, josh moved to coburg about a year ago. Lives with stef. Nah all the kiwis had moved out by that point, oh no actually ther was Sam, a young aucklander who reminds me a bit of that pessamistic donkey from Winnie the pooh was living there. He played in Jurassic Penguin some moons ago....he lost all his guitars etc in the fire. Poor fella.
Re: End of an era. Essendon squat melbourne
Oh yeah, I know the dude. Nice guy, he was there that night we hung out.
I definitely enjoyed the Fortress. First RAC I've ever heard that was musically fuckin mean. So stoked to learn that 'racial rock is on the rise'!
Passion.
Alliteration.
Ticks all the boxes.
I definitely enjoyed the Fortress. First RAC I've ever heard that was musically fuckin mean. So stoked to learn that 'racial rock is on the rise'!
Passion.
Alliteration.
Ticks all the boxes.

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