After months of silence after a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign, the future of the historic Melbourne music venue the Tote has been secured.
In May, Shane Hilton and his partner Leanne, the owners of the Melbourne rock music venue Last Chance, raised $3m to save the legendary Collingwood pub, with the agreement they would pay the remaining half of the asking price.
It followed news the Tote’s current owners had decided to put the venue up for sale, saying they had “no petrol left in the tank”.
Despite what was dubbed platform Pozible’s largest live music crowdfunder, the sale was quickly brought into question. After the $3m was successfully raised, the owners Jon Perring and Sam Crup released a statement on Instagram saying it was not enough and the venue “remains for sale until an agreement can be reached”.
“As there is a shortfall between the community pledges, the Last Chance equity and the sale price, governments and possibly private philanthropy would need to come on board to bridge the current gap,” the post read. “The other alternative is to go back to the music community again.”
For the past few months, Melbourne music fans have been questioning what is happening with the sale, but on Thursday it was announced it has been sold for an unknown sum.
“Honestly, the community … what a job they did,” Hilton said. “It’s been a real struggle not to want to reach out to people go, ‘Hey, this is happening. It’s 100% happening.’ But we haven’t been able to.
“So to be able to do that now … we’re just amazed what the community did and we’re just grateful that we’re part of it.”
In March, Perring and Crupi announced the venue was up for sale, saying they were unable to keep going after the “stresses and strains” of the pandemic.
Hilton was so committed to saving the venue that he promised to get the names of every donor who chipped in over $1,000 tattooed on to his body – he currently has over 70 done – with about 1,500 to go. He said he was booked in to get them in the coming two months.
“They’ll go up two legs, and a rather substantial part of buttock,” Hilton said. “We’ve worked it out. I think they’ll fit perfectly.”
The first hotel was built on the site in 1870 but the venue came to prominence in Melbourne music circles in the early 1980s, when it was renamed the Tote and hosted rock shows. Since then, artists including Paul Kelly, the White Stripes, You Am I and Courtney Barnett have graced its stages, which remain a mainstay for local acts, particularly punk and rock bands.
In a historic first for live music in Australia, the new owners will put the building in a trust, to ensure it stays as a venue for future generations, while they operate the business. They are set to take over in about 60 days.
The new owners thanked the music community, everyone who donated and Perring and Crupi for selling it to them.
“The Last Chance to Save the Tote campaign wasn’t just about protecting the walls, but everything that happens within them,” Hilton said. “To be able to continue that means the absolute world to us.”
In a statement, Perring said it was “with great relief” they sold the venue to Last Chance.
“They will bring fresh energy and a new vision to the Tote, which is needed for it to continue to be the beacon of local rock’n’roll – the culture that we all love,” Perring said. “We wish them all the very best.”
While most of the details around the sale have been kept private, it’s understood the staff will transition and the three PA systems will remain at the venue.
