It seems the Sydney lockouts have claimed another victim. As business owners across the CBD bemoan the mouldering state of once bustling hubs of culture like Kings Cross, the owners of Surry Hills venue The Flinders have taken to Facebook to announce their sudden closure.

The popular venue would regularly host live music performances, with a focus on up-and-coming local artists and bands. In announcing their closure via social media, the owners of the venue specifically cited the controversial lockout laws as the cause of the sad news.

“It’s been a good run, but Barry got us in the end,” they wrote, referencing former NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell who spearheaded the laws. “We know it’s sudden but please come in tonight and pour one out for your fallen homie. Thanks for all the good times. Peace, love, and picklebacks, from all of us at The Flinders.”

[include_post id=”408560″]

The Flinders had the bad luck of falling just inside the borders of the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct, which falls under the jurisdiction of the lockout laws. According to a map of the precinct, the venue is located a mere block from the Flinders St-South Dowling St border of the precinct.

Upon introduction early last year the lockout laws, which impose harsher punishments on intoxicated assaults, 10pm closing times for bottle shops, 1.30am lockouts, and 3am last-calls, were met with harsh criticism from business owners in the Sydney CBD, who predicted a detrimental impact on pubs and venues in the area.

Much of the criticism centred on Mr O’Farrell, who was one of the primary figures in introducing the so-called “one-punch laws”. Mr O’Farrell once again attracted criticism back in October after he wrote on Twitter that there were “no tears shed” on his part following the closure of The Backroom.

[include_post id=”420958″]

News of the Flinders’ closure comes just months after beloved Kings Cross haunt The Bourbon announced that they were up for sale and development. As Fairfax reported at the time, the owners of the venue cited both the lockout laws and the lure of property development cash as motivating the sale.

“Things haven’t been working for a while. Plain and simple, it is the lockout laws that have definitely affected our closing,” said Raul Gonzales, co-owner of The Backroom, another Kings Cross venue that was recently put up for sale, during an interview with Pulse Radio in October.

“When you have a business model that relies on late night trading and you’re not getting it, then it’s just not feasible to keep it running,” Gonzales continued. “The foot traffic in the Cross has dropped significantly.”

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine