Connections Nightclub
{{Short description|Nightclub in Northbridge, Western Australia}}
{{Use Australian English |date=May 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Connections
| nickname = Connies
| logo_image = Logo of Connections Nightclub, in Perth.jpg
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| mapframe-zoom = 15
| mapframe-marker = bar
| mapframe-marker-colour = #BE1596
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| fullname = {{wikidata |property |P1448 }}
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| address = 81 James Street, Northbridge
| city = Perth
| country = Australia
| location =
| coordinates = {{coord |region:AU-WA_type:landmark_dim:{{wikidata |property |qualifier |raw |P625 |P2386 |format=%q}} |name={{wikidata |property |P1448 }} |display=inline,title |format=dms}}{{EditAtWikidata|pid=P625}}
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| type = Nightclub
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| opened = {{Start date and age|1975|df=y}}
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Connections, known colloquially as Connies, is a nightclub in the Northbridge suburb of Perth, Western Australia.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-14 |title=Connections reveals reopening date |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/connections-nightclub-perth-reopens-after-coronavirus-shutdown-ng-b881608158z |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=PerthNow |language=en}} It opened in 1975, and is believed to be the longest-running gay club in the southern hemisphere.{{Cite news |first=Charlotte|last=Hamlyn |date=2015-12-02 |title='Longest-running gay club in southern hemisphere' turns 40 |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/iconic-perth-gay-nightclub-connections-celebrates-four-decades-/6996312 |access-date=2023-06-10}}
The club is on the City of Perth heritage register for its significance to the LGBTQIA+ community in Western Australia.{{cite web |url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/6d9fe4b6-ed75-423e-8746-eda30eb22e2c |title=Connections Nightclub |author= |date= |website=inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au |publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia |access-date=12 July 2023 |quote=}}
Description
Connections has been described as having "played a pivotal role in the evolution of Perth's gay community." The venue regularly hosts DJ nights, cabaret shows, and drag shows. It features a main dance floor, a rooftop terrace, and an upstairs lounge.{{Cite web |last=Tiki |first=Red |title=Connections Nightclub |url=http://connectionsnightclub.com/ |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=Connections Nightclub}}
History and operations
Prior to Connections, the building served as a cabaret bar and illegal gambling den. Denis Marshall and Walter Furlong opened Connections upon the suggestion of one of their gay friends.
The venue originally served as an underground venue where illegal relationships were shielded from public view. Cameras were banned inside Connections "for its first 14 years", necessary in part because of Western Australia's ban on homosexual relationships until 1990.
Celebrities who have partied and performed at the club include Boy George, Elton John, Rod Stewart and Mel Gibson.{{Citation | last1=Brown | first1=Tim Beresford | title=Connections Nightclub: collection of promotional materials | publication-date=1975 | publisher=Connections Nightclub | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/237522941 | access-date=10 June 2023}}{{Citation | author1=Clark, Darren | title=Patrons at the bar inside the Connections Nightclub, Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia, May 2008 | publication-date=2008 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/35131189 | access-date=10 June 2023}}{{Citation | last1=Brown | first1=Tim Beresford | last2=Fitzgerald | first2=Criena | title=Interviews with Tim Brown in 2019 | publication-date=2019 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/237436926 | access-date=10 June 2023}}
The venue caught fire in 1981. According to legend, the DJ on the night queued the track "Disco Inferno" before the evacuation. Patrons of the venue danced and cheered on the firefighters from nearby Lake Street.
Reception
The venue has been described by local media as "Perth's premier LGBT+ nightlife destination".{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Clare |date=2022-11-07 |title=Perth’s Best Dance Floors |url=https://perthisok.com/best-of-wa/perths-best-dance-floors/ |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=Perth is OK! |language=en}} An ABC profile of the venue in 2015 described it as iconic.