Darwin’s only gay nightclub is to close after 24 years due to safety concerns at the building.
Throb Nightclub has been placed into liquidation after the venue’s directors voted on Wednesday to liquidate the company and appoint an Adelaide-based company. Tarquin Koch Accounting and Insolvency Services as liquidator.
The Northern Territory government closed the nightclub in September last year because the Manolas building on Smith Street was deemed unsafe.
Liquidator Tarquin Koch told WhatsNew2Day Australia this had prevented Throb Nightclub from trading.
“A company that cannot trade is a company that will fail,” he said.
Darwin’s only gay nightclub closes after 24 years due to construction problems
Throb Nightclub has been placed into liquidation after the venue’s directors voted on Wednesday to liquidate the company and appoint Adelaide-based firm Tarquin Koch Accounting and Insolvency Services as liquidator.
“An unsafe order was imposed on it for issues with the slab and that has been an ongoing issue with the directors contacting the relevant government departments and its owner to try to rectify, so they can open the doors and obviously trade, but it have made”. I could not do it.
‘Hence the demand to go into liquidation.
“They cannot trade due to orders placed in the building where they are tenants.”
The Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics’ Director of Building Control forced the nightclub to close on September 7, 2023, following an inspection of the premises on the corner of Smith and Edmunds streets.
An emergency order was served on the building’s owner, Halikos Group, to rectify safety issues related to walls and a concrete slab.
This affected Throb Nightclub because they were tenants, but the Meraki Greek Taverna restaurant has since moved back into the building while the National Flag store has moved out.
Businessman Tim Palmer, Mark Marcelis and his sister Karen Dunham founded the nightclub in 2000, making it one of Darwin’s most popular venues on Friday and Saturday nights, with drag shows after 11pm.
It also became a popular place for straight people, from Supreme Court judges to professionals and those in the Defense Forces who wanted a more relaxed place to party in a younger city where men are in the majority.
The Northern Territory government had closed the nightclub in September because it deemed the Manolas building unsafe.
Liquidator Tarquin Koch told WhatsNew2Day Australia this had prevented Throb Nightclub from listing.
Throb had also encouraged gay and straight people to visit, rather than simply promoting itself as a place for same-sex attracted customers.
“Everyone welcome,” their Facebook page said.
‘Where you are free to be with respect and consideration for others.’
But the place had signs directed at those with anti-gay attitudes.
‘You! You are entering a gay and lesbian friendly area! “Men kiss men, women kiss women,” she said.
‘If this offends you, don’t come in (and grow).’
Unlike other nightclubs in the hot tropical city, Throb had allowed entry to men wearing shorts instead of long pants.
Throb’s closure means Darwin and the Northern Territory’s tropical Top End will not have a gay nightclub.
But The Cavenagh Hotel and The Deck Bar occasionally host gay-themed events.
WhatsNew2Day Australia has contacted the Halikos Group for comment.
Businessman Tim Palmer, Mark Marcelis and his sister Karen Dunham established the nightclub in 2000, making it one of Darwin’s most popular venues on Friday and Saturday nights, with drag shows after 11pm.