It’s been a hectic few weeks ‘round here. After over a year of refurbishments and more than $30m invested into making-over our beloved 2,200 capacity venue, Roundhouse welcomed event organisers and the general public with open arms at two launch events.
A VIP Opening Showcase on 6 March and an Official Launch on 15 March including a VIP reception and a sold-out one-off performance from San Cisco saw almost 2,000 event attendees, clients, partners, suppliers and staff pass through the venue to experience it first-hand.
Food, drinks, venue tours and conversation were the themes of the evening. We reconnected with loyal clients and saw some fresh faces as we opened our doors to showcase our brand-new space.
Our panel of four expert caterers put on a stunning spread to make sure everyone was well-fed. European Catering, Bon Vin, Bayleaf and Laissez-Faire outdid themselves, with selections including a Mexican Cantina, a duck confit ravioli station, a fresh seafood station and bespoke tray service of potted desserts.
Roundhouse staff offered personalised tours throughout the evening as guests learnt about the flexibility of the space and the range of rooms available for their events. Key favourites on the evening were the stunning, 1,000 capacity round main room; our eight flexible breakout spaces for 10 – 270 guests; and our first-class audio-visual offering including a flown PA system and modular stage.
Jason Lyons, Roundhouse Head of Venue and Events, addressed the crowd, recounting his experiences of the venue and his excitement to see the positive reaction to the venue from those in the room.
Speaking about the venue, Robyn Johnson, CEO of Meetings and Events Australia said “My first impression of the Roundhouse is just how well renovated it is”. She continued “everyone is looking for that unique event and to do that you need the right space… I think it’s a fantastic addition to the Sydney events scene".
The evening kicked off with a cocktail function for Roundhouse clients, partners, staff and invited guests from the University of New South Wales.
The crowd of almost 200 VIPs was addressed by Brad Hannagan, CEO of Arc (the organisation charged with the management of Roundhouse); Edward Bartolo, Chair of Arc’s board; UNSW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Jacobs; and UNSW Student, Courtney Cross. It was particularly special to have Professor John Niland speak on the evening. Niland was UNSW’s Student President when Roundhouse first opened; he then went on to become the University’s Vice-Chancellor in 1992.
The general public began to fill the main room as doors opened at 7pm in anticipation of San Cisco’s headline set. Byron Bay natives Tora warmed the crowd up with tracks from their latest album, ‘Take a Rest’ as Uni bar and Thirsty Burger served up a range of on-tap beers and burgers.
San Cisco took to the stage for their one-off Sydney performance to much anticipation. The band belted out hits from their latest album, including its namesake ‘The Distance’ as the crowd echoed the words, filling the round room with bouncing vocals as the light show lit the roof in rainbow fractals.
The mezzanine balcony served as an ideal viewing space for those who attended the VIP function, giving clients a full-view of the 360-degree room. After the show, band members Scarlett Stevens and Jennifer Aslett commented on the acoustics while playing in a round room “I think it’s better for the sound, I noticed the acoustics are so much more lively”.
With our Official Launch done and dusted, we’re gearing up for a busy few weeks ahead. Coming up in the next few weeks, we have K-Pop on 29 April and Claptone: The Masquerade on 4 May. If you haven’t been ‘round to see the venue yet, make sure to check out our 360-degree interactive tour!
