Darwin loses its only gay venue Throb Nightclub as owners shut it down after nearly 25 years
Darwin’s only gay nightclub is closing after 24 years due to construction safety concerns.
Throb Nightclub has been placed into liquidation after the venue’s directors voted on Wednesday to dissolve the company and appoint the Adelaide-based company Tarquin Koch Accounting and Insolvency Services as liquidator.
The Northern Territory government had closed the nightclub in September last year because the Manolas building on Smith Street was deemed unsafe.
Liquidator Tarquin Koch told Daily Mail Australia this prevented Throb Nightclub from trading.
“A company that cannot trade is a company that is going bankrupt,” he said.
Darwin’s only gay nightclub is closing after 24 years due to construction problems
Throb Nightclub has been placed into liquidation after the venue’s directors voted on Wednesday to dissolve the company and appoint Adelaide-based firm Tarquin Koch Accounting and Insolvency Services as liquidator
‘An unsafe order had been imposed with issues with the slab and that has been an ongoing issue with directors liaising with the relevant government departments and their landlords to try to rectify this so that they can open the doors and of course trade, but they did’ I couldn’t do this.
‘Hence the demand to go bankrupt.
‘They cannot trade because of the orders placed in the building itself, where they are tenants.’
The Director of Building Control for the Northern Territory’s Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics had 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 issued to the building owner Halikos Group to resolve safety issues relating to the walls and a concrete slab.
This affected Throb Nightclub as they were tenants, but the Meraki Greek Taverna restaurant has since moved back into the building, while the National Flag store has moved.
Businessman Tim Palmer, Mark Marcelis and his sister Karen Dunham had 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 venue for straight people, from Supreme Court justices to tradies and military folks who wanted a more relaxed place to party in a younger, male-majority city.
The Northern Territory government had closed the nightclub in September because the Manolas building was deemed unsafe
Liquidator Tarquin Koch told Daily Mail Australia this prevented Throb Nightclub from trading
Throb had also encouraged both gay and straight people to visit, rather than marketing itself as a place for same-sex visitors.
“Everyone welcome,” the Facebook page says.
‘Where you are free to be with respect and attention for others.’
But there were signs at the location targeting people with anti-gay attitudes.
‘You! You are entering a gay and lesbian friendly zone! Men kiss men, women kiss women,” it said.
“If this offends you, don’t go in (and grow up).”
Unlike some other nightclubs in the hot, tropical city, Throb had allowed men to wear shorts instead of long pants.
Throb’s closure means Darwin and the tropical Top End of the Northern Territory will no longer have a gay nightclub.
But The Cavenagh Hotel and The Deck Bar occasionally host gay-themed events.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Halikos Group for comment.
Businessman Tim Palmer, Mark Marcelis and his sister Karen Dunham had founded the nightclub in 2000, making it one of Darwin’s most popular venues on Friday and Saturday nights, with drag shows after 11pm.