Perth Council Asked To Reconsider Rejected LGBTQIA+ Sex On Premises Venue, The Pink Rabbit

Plans for an LGBTQIA+ sex-on-premises venue in Perth’s CBD are returning to council, with a revised proposal offering reduced capacity and tighter membership restrictions following mediation at the State Administrative Tribunal.

The Pink Rabbit Club would occupy the upper floor above the Pink Rabbit Adult Boutique on Barrack Street, providing an adults only space for social connection, education and consensual sexual activity.

The City of Perth rejected the original application in July despite planning officers recommending approval, with councillors raising concerns about noise, public safety and the impact on neighbouring properties.

According to OUTinPerth, the amended proposal will go before council in November. Maximum patron numbers would fall from 50 to 35, with a proposed opening time of 10.30am.

Membership would be restricted to weekly or monthly subscriptions, with no casual memberships, walk ins or guests. Approval would be limited to five years, entry permitted only from Barrack Street, and external signage advertising the club prohibited.

Council staff have emphasised that the application should be assessed against planning requirements rather than moral objections.

A Contested Path To Approval

Early this year, public consultation attracted 341 submissions, including 290 objections and 51 expressions of support.

Council records reportedly showed 195 objections lacked supporting reasons, while another 43 used standardised wording.

Following the rejection, managing director Nicholas Needham defended the proposal’s broader community purpose, saying the club could offer an entry point for people who had not previously felt comfortable visiting queer venues.

“Yes there may be sex, but maybe there won’t be,” he told NewsWire at the time.

Community Connection And Safer Sex

The club’s original plans included an alcohol- and drug-free environment, safer sex education and supplies, alongside disability access through the installation of a lift.

The plans also outlined proposed partnerships with sexual health organisations to provide information and resources.

A Pink Rabbit spokesperson previously told The Star Observer that sex-on-premises venues hold significant cultural and historical importance for queer communities.

“These spaces have long served as vital sanctuaries for connection, self-expression, and mutual support,” they said.

The revised application gives councillors another opportunity to consider the proposed venue following the July refusal.