A beloved Victorian live music venue is fighting to stay alive after management announced this week that it is being forced to close its doors this October.
As noted by The Courier, Ballarat-based Suttons House Of Music confirmed on Facebook on Monday that the closure comes as a result of not being able to secure a new lease.
"Due to an in house restructure of [sic] business entity earlier this year we are required to have a new lease put in place," the statement reads.
"After much discussion with our real estate agent unfortunately we have been advised a new lease will not be forthcoming. It would seem our landlord would rather an empty building than allow us to continue even though his bills have always been paid."
Suttons House Of Music has been operating for the past three years and has hosted sets from names such as Daryl Braithwaite, Dan Sultan, Katie Noonan, Tex Perkins and Beccy Cole, to name a few.
Another artist who has played at Suttons numerous times is Freya Josephine Hollick, who says that the venue supported her "endlessly".
"The venue's contribution to the music scene in the regional city of Ballarat is undeniable and substantial," Hollick tells The Music.
"I have had the opportunity to perform there countless times. Not only have they supported me as an artist, but Sutton's House Of Music provided me with much-needed assistance as a single mum seeking flexible work."
Management have also launched a petition calling on local council to overturn the decision.
"The Sutton building does not have a heritage overlay protecting the interior and we are terrified that a large corporation may come in and destroy or cover the outstanding features the building boasts," the statement concludes.
As of this writing, the petition has garnered over 3500 signatures.
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