The Sunshine Coast’s live music scene has experienced a setback with the announced closure of The Station, a venue in Birtinya. The venue’s closure, attributed by owners to a decline in tours, reflects unsustainable business conditions resulting from decreased event bookings. This follows NightQuarter’s shutdown in 2022, raising questions about the viability of large live music venues in the area.
Table of contents
Official guidance: USA.gov — official guidance for Live music venue closes, owners gutted by drop in tours
Background Context
The Station, with a capacity of 1,600, opened in March 2024, offering live music, retail spaces, a bar, food trucks, and a skate park. Despite attracting approximately 80,000 ticket holders, the venue struggled to maintain profitability. The venue’s closure, attributed by owners to a decline in tours, highlights the challenges faced by businesses dependent on touring acts and consistent patronage in a fluctuating economic climate.
Owners Chris and Lauren Hignett invested around $1 million before opening and a further $1 million attempting to sustain the business. The couple sold their family home to inject capital, but determined that an additional $500,000 would be needed to continue operations. The announcement of the closure, with Pete Murray’s Friday performance as the final show, has impacted the local music community. The venue’s closure, attributed by owners to a decline in tours, leaves a void in the Sunshine Coast entertainment landscape.
Economic Pressures and Touring Challenges
Mr. Hignett explained that the venue experienced a drop in tour bookings starting in March 2025. While ticket sales averaged 65-70% of capacity for shows, exceeding the national average of 55%, the frequency of these events was insufficient. The venue needed at least six shows per month to remain viable, a target they were unable to consistently achieve. The venue’s closure, attributed by owners to a decline in tours, is due to a combination of factors, including risk-averse promoters preferring smaller venues.
Adding to the financial strain, the average spend per head at the venue decreased by approximately 30%. NightQuarter co-owner Michelle Christoe previously attributed the struggles of the Birtinya entertainment precinct to a slow economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, floods, and the rising cost of living. These factors created a challenging environment for entertainment businesses. The venue’s closure, attributed by owners to a decline in tours, as the economic headwinds proved too strong.
Community Impact and Future Prospects
The closure of The Station has implications beyond the loss of a live music space. Team MusiCare, a charity for children with disabilities associated with the venue, will also cease operations. The Hignetts are seeking to terminate their lease agreement with Stockland, who expressed regret at the closure and are exploring future opportunities for the site. The venue’s closure, attributed by owners to a decline in tours, affects music fans, charitable organizations, and local businesses.
Lenny Vance, a tourism and events management expert, acknowledged that the closure would “leave a hole” in the local industry. He expressed hope that smaller live music venues in the region would continue to flourish, suggesting a shift in consumer preferences towards more intimate settings. He also remained optimistic about the long-term future of live music on the Sunshine Coast, particularly with the upcoming 2032 Olympics potentially driving cultural growth and investment. Despite this optimism, the venue’s closure, attributed by owners to a decline in tours, a reminder of the industry’s fragility.
Industry Reflections and Regional Dynamics
Sunshine Coast singer-songwriter Andrea Kirwin described the situation as a “perfect storm” of rising alcohol prices and a challenging economic climate. While the region attracts tourists with its beaches and family-friendly atmosphere, it lacks the robust nightlife infrastructure of nearby cities like Brisbane and the Gold Coast. This makes it difficult to attract larger crowds and sustain large-scale venues. The venue’s closure, attributed by owners to a decline in tours, partly because of the region’s characteristics and the competition from established entertainment hubs.
The closure also highlights the risk aversion among some Australian band promoters, who prioritize selling out smaller venues over potentially attracting a larger audience at a bigger location. This strategy, while understandable from a business perspective, can limit opportunities for venues like The Station to secure consistent bookings and generate sufficient revenue. The venue’s closure, attributed by owners to a decline in tours, in part due to these broader industry dynamics and the challenges of competing for touring acts.
The closure of The Station underscores the nature of the live music industry, particularly for large venues reliant on touring acts. The venue’s closure, attributed by owners to a decline in tours, serves as a cautionary tale about the financial challenges and economic pressures facing entertainment businesses. While the future of the Birtinya site remains uncertain, the loss of The Station leaves a void in the Sunshine Coast’s live music scene and raises questions about the sustainability of similar venues in the region.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.
Sources: Information based on credible sources and industry analysis.
Note: Information based on credible sources and industry analysis.
Explore more: related articles.
