10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Iconic Star Hotel in the mix for state heritage listing
Newcastle's iconic Star Hotel is being considered for heritage listing 100 years after the building was constructed.
The Star Hotel in Newcastle West, now known as Bernie's Bar, is being considered by the Heritage Council of NSW and may meet the criteria for state heritage significance.
The infamous Star Hotel riot of 1979, which inspired the Cold Chisel song 'The Star Hotel', was noted in a statement of significance with the application.
The statement says the building's history as a "countercultural melting pot and its sudden closure and expulsion of LGBTQIA+ patrons in 1979 is representative of broader historical trends in NSW and beyond".
It also noted the venue was collectively remembered as a LGBTQIA+ meeting place and venue for Newcastle's first public drag performances.
The venue started as single-storey timber building built in 1855 on Blane Street (now Hunter Street), which was demolished in 1910 and replaced with a new hotel.
The block then grew to surrounding lots, and in 1925 a new two-storey brick hotel was built spanning from Hunter Street to King Street.
After the 1979 riot, the Star Hotel was transformed into a 22-shop shopping centre known as the Star Complex.
The site underwent four major renovations before the Hunter Street portion and first floor of the King Street building were converted into a residential complex known as the Star Apartments.
The venue re-opened as queer-friendly Bernie's Bar in 2023. While Bernie's was not behind the application to heritage-list the building, they are very supportive of the nomination.
"We love the history, we love the heritage," Bernie's Bar co-founder Patrick Fisher said.
"It was a home for diversity long before we got here."
Community members are welcome to have their say on the nomination until August 8.
Details are available at
Newcastle's iconic Star Hotel is being considered for heritage listing 100 years after the building was constructed.
The Star Hotel in Newcastle West, now known as Bernie's Bar, is being considered by the Heritage Council of NSW and may meet the criteria for state heritage significance.
The infamous Star Hotel riot of 1979, which inspired the Cold Chisel song 'The Star Hotel', was noted in a statement of significance with the application.
The statement says the building's history as a "countercultural melting pot and its sudden closure and expulsion of LGBTQIA+ patrons in 1979 is representative of broader historical trends in NSW and beyond".
It also noted the venue was collectively remembered as a LGBTQIA+ meeting place and venue for Newcastle's first public drag performances.
The venue started as single-storey timber building built in 1855 on Blane Street (now Hunter Street), which was demolished in 1910 and replaced with a new hotel.
The block then grew to surrounding lots, and in 1925 a new two-storey brick hotel was built spanning from Hunter Street to King Street.
After the 1979 riot, the Star Hotel was transformed into a 22-shop shopping centre known as the Star Complex.
The site underwent four major renovations before the Hunter Street portion and first floor of the King Street building were converted into a residential complex known as the Star Apartments.
The venue re-opened as queer-friendly Bernie's Bar in 2023. While Bernie's was not behind the application to heritage-list the building, they are very supportive of the nomination.
"We love the history, we love the heritage," Bernie's Bar co-founder Patrick Fisher said.
"It was a home for diversity long before we got here."
Community members are welcome to have their say on the nomination until August 8.
Details are available at
Newcastle's iconic Star Hotel is being considered for heritage listing 100 years after the building was constructed.
The Star Hotel in Newcastle West, now known as Bernie's Bar, is being considered by the Heritage Council of NSW and may meet the criteria for state heritage significance.
The infamous Star Hotel riot of 1979, which inspired the Cold Chisel song 'The Star Hotel', was noted in a statement of significance with the application.
The statement says the building's history as a "countercultural melting pot and its sudden closure and expulsion of LGBTQIA+ patrons in 1979 is representative of broader historical trends in NSW and beyond".
It also noted the venue was collectively remembered as a LGBTQIA+ meeting place and venue for Newcastle's first public drag performances.
The venue started as single-storey timber building built in 1855 on Blane Street (now Hunter Street), which was demolished in 1910 and replaced with a new hotel.
The block then grew to surrounding lots, and in 1925 a new two-storey brick hotel was built spanning from Hunter Street to King Street.
After the 1979 riot, the Star Hotel was transformed into a 22-shop shopping centre known as the Star Complex.
The site underwent four major renovations before the Hunter Street portion and first floor of the King Street building were converted into a residential complex known as the Star Apartments.
The venue re-opened as queer-friendly Bernie's Bar in 2023. While Bernie's was not behind the application to heritage-list the building, they are very supportive of the nomination.
"We love the history, we love the heritage," Bernie's Bar co-founder Patrick Fisher said.
"It was a home for diversity long before we got here."
Community members are welcome to have their say on the nomination until August 8.
Details are available at
Newcastle's iconic Star Hotel is being considered for heritage listing 100 years after the building was constructed.
The Star Hotel in Newcastle West, now known as Bernie's Bar, is being considered by the Heritage Council of NSW and may meet the criteria for state heritage significance.
The infamous Star Hotel riot of 1979, which inspired the Cold Chisel song 'The Star Hotel', was noted in a statement of significance with the application.
The statement says the building's history as a "countercultural melting pot and its sudden closure and expulsion of LGBTQIA+ patrons in 1979 is representative of broader historical trends in NSW and beyond".
It also noted the venue was collectively remembered as a LGBTQIA+ meeting place and venue for Newcastle's first public drag performances.
The venue started as single-storey timber building built in 1855 on Blane Street (now Hunter Street), which was demolished in 1910 and replaced with a new hotel.
The block then grew to surrounding lots, and in 1925 a new two-storey brick hotel was built spanning from Hunter Street to King Street.
After the 1979 riot, the Star Hotel was transformed into a 22-shop shopping centre known as the Star Complex.
The site underwent four major renovations before the Hunter Street portion and first floor of the King Street building were converted into a residential complex known as the Star Apartments.
The venue re-opened as queer-friendly Bernie's Bar in 2023. While Bernie's was not behind the application to heritage-list the building, they are very supportive of the nomination.
"We love the history, we love the heritage," Bernie's Bar co-founder Patrick Fisher said.
"It was a home for diversity long before we got here."
Community members are welcome to have their say on the nomination until August 8.
Details are available at
