Midnight Shift posts heartfelt farewell to Sydney patrons after almost 40 years
Image: The Midnight Shift. Image: Ann-Marie Calilhanna.
Famous gay nightclub Midnight Shift has closed its doors this weekend after almost 40 years.
In a heartfelt post on Facebook, director and licensee Mark Mader thanked all who have made the club a Sydney icon.
“To all the staff who worked in the Midnight Shift over the last 37 years… through to the end of an era,” he wrote.
“I want to thank all the drag entertainers who have worked in the Shift and who for me were the life and the spirit of the Midnight Shift.”
Mader thanked the DJs, technicians and promoters who have worked at the club over the years.
“To Hellfire and their patrons, it’s like you were always there and belonged there,” he wrote.
“My heart is broken and sad for the loss.
“For those who supported the venue, thank you, and [to those] who grew up there, take care, always be yourself and proud.
“The Midnight Shift has always been about the gay community, diversity and acceptance.”
The club held its final party over the long weekend before closing for good.
Midnight Shift will be working with the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives to preserve the history of the club.
I remember a time when the Shift was not so keen on “diversity and acceptance”. In the early 80s, women were not allowed in at all, and men were only admitted if they weren’t too “poofy”. I can recall my gay male best friend telling me of a rare occasion when he went to the Shift (he was more of a Patches guy because he could go there with female friends after Rubys closed), and he said “The doorman told me I could come in, but I’d have to take off my shirt because it wasn’t butch enough.”
Such a loss. We were there on the last night and it was absolutely fabulous. Thank you to all those people who made this venue so iconic. Im sad it is now closed but thankful for all the things I learnt in that venue. It was much more than a pub. Memories I’ll always cherish.