Court Hotel

Court Hotel or The Court is a music venue and bar in Perth, Western Australia.[1][2][3][4][5]

Court Hotel
The Court
The Court in 2019
Address50 Beaufort St
Perth
Australia
TypeMusic venue, bar

It is a historic hotel, located at the corner of Beaufort Street and James Street. It was built in 1888 and has been continually used as a hotel since then.[6][7]

It has been a LGBTQ+ friendly venue since the early 1990s.[8]

Description

The venue is located on the corner of James St and Beaufort St, on the east side of the James St Mall through the Perth Cultural Centre. It neighbours Curtin House, the former headquarters of the WA Police detective unit.[9]

The venue features a large astroturf outdoor courtyard, with a stage area.[10] The outside of the venue is painted in a colourful street-art style.[11]

It is marketed as a LGBTQ+ friendly venue. The venue is known for hosting drag shows.[12]

History and operations

The Court Hotel was constructed in 1888 in the Victorian Regency architectural style, and later renovated to include Federation Free Classical style and, mostly internally, the Inter-War Art Deco style.[13] The name of the venue comes from its position across the road from a building in the Perth cultural precinct that used to operate as a Magistrates court.

From 1903 it was operated by Con O'Brien, the first Labor Member of the Legislative Council.[5]

Court Hotel in 2007

Extensive renovations were undertaken in 1938, 2007, 2012 and 2017.[14][15]

As of 2016, the venue is solely owned by Bree Maddox, a Perth socialite and former Penthouse model. The venue was formerly owned jointly by Maddox and her partner, Malcolm Day; prior to their separation.[16]

In 2019 and 2021, the venue has faced criticism from members of Perth's LGBTQ+ community.[17] This criticism followed the resurfacing of historic images of a drag queen Scarlet Adams performing in blackface at the venue; as well as claims from some patrons that antisocial and anti-queer behaviour had been experienced by patrons.[18] In response to these criticisms, the venue adorned its entrance with rainbow colours while its owners publicly stated their support for the LGBTQ+ community; and hired additional security, but declined a requested ban on non-queer patrons.[19][20] In response to the blackface allegations, the venue issued an apology.[21]

In 2022, a mural was painted onto the side of the building by Fremantle-based artist Jackson Harvey.[11]

In September 2023, Australian Venue Co. entered an agreement to purchase The Court from Maddox.[22]

See also

References
  1. "Kids get down and boogie at The Court Hotel". The West Australian. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  2. "The Court Hotel announces Christmas closure as Covid testing hits Northbridge". OUTInPerth | LGBTQIA+ News and Culture. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  3. "Court Hotel refuses to ban straight people". The West Australian. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  4. Barry, Hannah (20 February 2019). "'Let's do better': Perth bar goes rainbow as it responds to patron safety concerns". WAtoday. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  5. "Court Hotel". Daily News. 14 February 1903. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  6. "COURT HOTEL, PERTH". The Murchison Times And Day Dawn Gazette. Vol. 16, no. 57. Western Australia. 25 December 1909. p. 1. Retrieved 11 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. Jackson, J.S. (John Stuart) (1920), Pencil drawings of the Court Hotel, Perth, retrieved 11 June 2023
  8. "RIP Rod Kelly, former owner of The Court Hotel". OutInPerth. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  9. "Mob attacks ex-police HQ Curtin House". PerthNow. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  10. Google. "Photograph of venue courtyard" (Map). Google Maps. Google.
  11. "The Court boasts colourful new mural created by artist Jackson Harvey". OUTInPerth. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  12. Hirst, Jordan (22 March 2021). "Queer venues issue apologies after drag queen blackface scandal". QNews. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  13. Heritage Council of Western Australia (14 July 2003). "Register of Heritage Places - Assessment Documentation: Court Hotel" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  14. "COURT HOTEL MODERNISED". The Daily News. Western Australia. 4 June 1938. p. 28 (LATE CITY). Retrieved 8 January 2020 – via Trove.
  15. "Transformation of Popular Hotel". Westralian Worker. Western Australia. 29 April 1938. p. 17. Retrieved 8 January 2020 – via Trove.
  16. "Bree gets The Court after settlement". PerthNow. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  17. "The Court hotel slammed after blackface controversy". The West Australian. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  18. Barry, Hannah (20 February 2019). "'Let's do better': Perth bar goes rainbow as it responds to patron safety concerns". WAtoday. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  19. Barry, Hannah (20 February 2019). "'Let's do better': Perth bar goes rainbow as it responds to patron safety concerns". WAtoday. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  20. "Calls for Perth gay bar to remove rainbow iconography". The West Australian. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  21. Hirst, Jordan (22 March 2021). "Queer venues issue apologies after drag queen blackface scandal". QNews. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  22. Thompson, Holly (14 September 2023). "Iconic Perth bar The Court to change hands in landmark sale". WAtoday. Retrieved 14 September 2023.

31.95027°S 115.86249°E / -31.95027; 115.86249

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