Warehouse Rock: Prospect Hill Hotel, Kew

Page founded by Adam Robert-Jones Dean, 2011.

Once upon a time, the walls of what is now the Dan Murphy's liquor store in Kew played host to some of the most memorable concerts in Melbourne's history.

International acts included THE CURE in their formative years.

Local acts included THE CHURCH, MIDNIGHT OIL, AC/DC, SKYHOOKS, MEN AT WORK, HUNTER & COLLECTORS and JEFF DUFF among many others.

Following closure in the 1990s, the former venue has become a conspicuous blend of suburbia - surviving today as a Dan Murphy's liquor store with little reminders of the original hotel that was first constructed in 1857.

Join this page if you attended a gig here or are interested in celebrating the more colourful history of the place.

HISTORY (Work in Progress)

* Built in 1857.

* 1858: The hotel appears on a geological map of Melbourne. It is labelled as "The Prospect VIEW" not "The Prospect HILL".

* The early Licensees were:

1858-61 - Daniel Litton Reed
1862-64 - John Ormond
1865/77 - Dennis Scanlon
Sept 1871 - W. B. Ellerket
1878/84 - John Kearney
1887/90 - Miss B. Hurley
1891 - William Cody
1895 - B. Cody
1948 - Horrie Clover

* 1885:
Refurbished.

* 1889:
By the start of 1889, the hotel became Kew's first meeting place for the Ancient Order of Free & Accepted Masons.

* 1936:
The hotel was rebuilt to the designs of Robert H. McIntyre, father of noted architect Peter McIntyre. Robert H McIntyre specialised in hotels and was responsible for a great many hotel designs in the 1930s, including: the rebuilding of the Prince of Wales Hotel, St. Kilda (1936); the Prospect Hill Hotel, Kew (1936); the Hotel Max, Prahran (c.1937); alterations and additions to the Alpine Hotel, Bright (1938); alterations and additions to the Cumberland Hotel, Castlemaine (1938); the Railway Hotel, Yarraville (1938); complete reconstruction of the City Club Hotel, Collins Street (1938); extensive alterations to the Toorak Hotel, Toorak Village (1938); and, additions and modernisation of the Palace Hotel, Racecourse Road, Newmarket (1939).

* The Prospect was renovated several times since.

* 1968: THE VICTORIAN JAZZ CLUB
The Victorian Jazz Club opened with its first gig at the Prospect. The original name given to the gig on a Thursday night was Jazz ‘n’ Jug. In 1969 the VJC expanded to two nights, Thursdays and Fridays charging $1 entry, – 50 cents for the Club and 50 cents for the supper. (Supper was provided to conform with the liquor laws of the day). Later in 1969 the Club expanded to two venues – the Prospect Hotel, Kew and the Manor House Hotel (formerly the Britannia Hotel). Initial membership of the club was 50cents, then after much committee debate rose to $1, and in 1972 rose again to $3. In January 1971 after over 2 years of great success, the publican of the Prospect Hill Hotel terminated the agreement with the VJC, virtually without notice, and decided to run his own jazz program. http://www.victorianjazzclub.com/?page_id=53

* A very, very abbreviated list of 70s and 80s gigs at The Prospect:

* 1976: COLD CHISEL (March 17)
* 1977: SKYHOOKS (March 28)
* 1977: STARS featuring Andy Durant (September 20)
* 1977: SKYHOOKS (December 26)
* 1978: SKYHOOKS (January 16)
* 1978: COLD CHISEL (April 25)
* 1978: SIDEWINDER (June 5)
* 1979: SKYHOOKS (March 21)
* 1979: SKYHOOKS (March 28)
* 1979: SKYHOOKS (May 2)
* 1979: MATCHBOX (September 22)
* 1980: SKYHOOKS (January 28)
* 1980: SKYHOOKS (March 23)
* 1980: SKYHOOKS (April 22)
* 1980: SKYHOOKS (May 1)
* 1980: SKYHOOKS (May 8)

* 1980: THE CURE (August 26)
The band played a mixture of tracks from both albums to a rapturous crowd. The Cure were called back for three long encores. By the end of the night, we'd heard every track from both albums (some twice), along with every B-side, a free-form jam and a cover of Hendrix's Foxy Lady. When the Cure toured a year later they played bigger venues and to bigger crowds. But it's the Prospect Hill Hotel gig that I remember with the most fondness. ~ Bruce Milne, The Age, Dec 2011.

* 1980: THE LONELY HEARTS (August 27)
* 1981: THE LONELY HEARTS (Jan 27)
* 1981: MEN AT WORK (May 2)
* 1981: THE CHEKS (July 6 - free show)
* 1981: SPECIAL GUESTS (July 7)
* 1981: DYNAMIC HEPNOTICS plus SENSATIONAL BODGIES (July 8)
* 1981: MARSHA HUNT (July 9)
* 1981: THE FABULAIRES (July 10)
* 1981: JENNIFER LEE BAND (July 11 - afternoon)
* 1981: MATT FINISH featuring Matt Moffitt (August 2)
* 1981: KEVIN BORICH and THE LONELY HEARTS (December 6)

* 1981: THE CHURCH (July 11)
Starting from July 1981, The Church begin playing regularly at The Prospect. They will go on to play the venue at least 10 times over the next 5 years.

* 1981: RUSSELL MORRIS & THE RUBES (July 12)
* 1981: 88's (July 13 - free show)
* 1981: AUSTRALIAN CRAWL (July 14)
* 1981: SWANEE plus HITMEN (July 15)
* 1981: WENDY & THE ROCKETTS (July 16)
* 1981: THE CHURCH (October 11)

* 1981: MIDNIGHT OIL (September 22)
Part of their "Scorching of the Earth" tour, the show preceded the release of their 3rd album, PLACE WITHOUT A POSTCARD. The gig survives today as an audience bootleg.

* 1981: Article published in The Age: "Rock Around The Block" (Nov 6)
The Prospect has been a survivor in a business not noted for it. For many years it has provided a stage for acts from straight jazz through to rock 'n' roll. Nowadays it's bigger and better than ever before. It can easily accommodate a popular band with a big following. There are ample tables and chairs, a large bar but a small dance floor. There was a time when it wasn't very large or comfortable, and followers were expected to watch bands around the corner. But one year ago, the middle suburban hotel was given a dramatic facelift. Now all the followers have to contend with are a few pylons and the decor which is a cross between a bomb shelter and a still from 'American Graffiti'. Admission prices range between $3 and $6, and the doors are open every night of the week, including Sunday. Bar prices are very reasonable - a pot of beer costs 80 cents, Crown Lager $1.40, and spirits are lower priced than at most venues. Food is served from 6 pm onwards. The faces and fashions of The Prospect's clientele haven't changed much in the past ten years - only the people have. The pub doesn't employ bouncers, and never needs them. Rock 'n' roll at the Prospect is good, clean fun.

* 1981: HUNTERS & COLLECTORS (November 13)

* 1981: THE SPORTS (Led by Stephen Cummings)
Shortly before their departure for England and the Rumour tour, Sports played a fitting last stand in a small but packed room at the Prospect Hill Hotel in Kew.

* 1982: THE CHURCH (January 17)
* 1982: HUNTERS & COLLECTORS (Feb 5)
* 1982: THE CHURCH (April 4)
* 1982: HUNTERS & COLLECTORS (April 23)
* 1982: THE CHURCH (May 25)
* 1982: SERIOUS YOUNG INSECTS (July 13)
* 1982: YOUNG HOME BUYERS (July 14)
* 1982: NO FIXED ADDRESS (July 15)
* 1982: JENNIFER LEE BAND (July 16)
* 1982: LIQUID ENGINEERS (July 17 - free afternoon show)
* 1982: GOANNA BAND (July 17)
* 1982: HUNTERS & COLLECTORS (August 7
* 1982: HUNTERS & COLLECTORS (October 16)

* 1983: SHORT STORY (May 14)
Short Story eventually evolved into Separate Tables then Girl Overboard. A bootleg survives from a soundboard tape.

* 1983: HUNTERS & COLLECTORS (October 13)
* 1983: HUNTERS & COLLECTORS (October 15)
* 1984: THE DYNAMIC HEPNOTICS (March 20)
* 1984: THE ZARSOFF BROTHERS (April 24)
* 1984: HUNTERS & COLLECTORS (July 21)
* 1985: THE CHURCH (March 2)
* 1985: HUNTERS & COLLECTORS (April 12)
* 1985: THE CHURCH (November 2)
* 1985: THE CHURCH (November 3)
* 1986: HUNTERS & COLLECTORS (Jan 3)
* 1986: THE CHURCH (March 2)

* 1993/94:
Renovated into a popular family restaurant.

* 1998-2000:
Re-opened as the Prospect Hill Hotel but soon became a discount liquor store.

* 2000 ONWARD:
160 years later, the hotel building and site still exists (!) - as Dan Murphy's, Kew. The building, however, seems to lack any heritage listing and off hand, it would seem that the number of alterations over the years has effected its considered value. A 2013 report, the "Kew Junction Commercial Heritage Study" acknowledged that it was first built in 1857 but then added that it "includes extensive later works", that the "level of intactness" was 'poor' and that the "building has been extensively altered and extended".