'The Sporties' celebrates 20 years

By Neil McLucas

18th Dec 1989, a change in the gay scene was about to happen. Yes, a complete gay hotel offering the gay scene stability and safety, the “Sportsman Hotel” 130 Leichhardt St Spring Hill, or as it is affectionately known as 'The Sporties' was born.

In the beginning which started in 1974 after the Australia Day floods, I along with my band of merry men opened the first gay run restaurant disco in Brisbane, Old Rowes Restaurant. Ooops, I shouldn't have said gay, I should of said 'people of the night', which we were referred to as politically. Old Rowes ran for 6 years before I and another band of merry men opened the Terminus Cabaret in Fortitude Valley which ran for 13 years.

I was pissed off with the shabby way gay people were tolerated in other establishments, and how the gay scene was 'one night of the week here, one night of the week there'. We as a community wanted a home of our own so I grouped yet another band of merry men, took over a butch footballer's hotel in Spring Hill and changed it overnight into Brisbane's first gay establishment.

Many in the scene laughed and said it wouldn't last, but here we are today celebrating 20 years. Many changes have occurred and we have adapted through these challenges to become what we are today, and that is a hotel offering the gay community a restaurant, 3 bars, poker machines, drag shows, live entertainment, accommodation, a bottleshop and friendly staff.

Over the years, many great people have worked at the hotel and I could never give them all the thanks they deserve. The hotel is well recognised for its drag performers and variety of entertainment.

Sporties was built in 1876 but wasn't known as the Sportsman Hotel until around the 1920's. The facade of the hotel was drastically changed in the 1950's from a heritage look to a modern brick veneer look. It was a shame that the large colonial balcony was removed from the first floor. The Sportsman Hotel stands proud as possibly the only gay owned and gay managed hotel in Australia to have traded continually for 20 years in the gay scene. 2009 is 'The Sporties' 20th Birthday year and we intend to celebrate and have a great time.