Bexley North Hotel
The Bexley North Hotel, like the Family Inn at Rydalmere, was an iconic pub venue of the 1980’s in Sydney. It’s hard to imagine these days that a simple, suburban pub could have hosted so many top line acts but that was how the scene was in those days. You could wander down to your local and catch a top line act such as INXS, Cold Chisel or Skyhooks.
What are your recollections of The Bexley North? I’d love to hear about them in the comments section below…
Known Gigs
| Date | Artist | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02/02/80 | Mental As Anything | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Lonely Hearts | |||
| 25/02/80 | Cold Chisel | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| 01/03/80 | Class | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Lonely Hearts | |||
| 28/03/80 | Dallimore | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + Sinclair Bros | |||
| 29/03/80 | Skyhooks | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + Ward 13 | |||
| 31/03/80 | Mental As Anything | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| 03/05/80 | Jim Keays Band | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Lonely Hearts | |||
| 30/05/80 | The Lonely Hearts | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| 26/07/80 | The Lonely Hearts | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| 22/08/80 | The Lonely Hearts | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| 27/09/80 | The Lonely Hearts | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| 03/11/80 | Norman Gunston | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + Kim Hart | |||
| 07/11/80 | Dallimore | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + Voices | |||
| 08/11/80 | Cyril B Bunter | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + Handsoff | |||
| 10/11/80 | Goldrush | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + Rupert B Funkified Filth | |||
| 14/11/80 | Ward 13 | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + Reporters | |||
| 15/11/80 | Dee Minor and The Dischords | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + O-Zone | |||
| 17/11/80 | Flowers | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Church | |||
| 17/11/80 | The Church | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + Flowers | |||
| 21/11/80 | Jimmy And The Boys | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + Moving Parts | |||
| 22/11/80 | Matt Finish | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Brix | |||
| 24/11/80 | The Numbers | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| 28/11/80 | Swanee | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Boys | |||
| 29/11/80 | INXS | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| 20/12/80 | The Lonely Hearts | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| 19/01/81 | The Lonely Hearts | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| 02/02/81 | The Lonely Hearts | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| 27/06/81 | Sunnyboys | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Lonely Hearts | |||
| 27/06/81 | Sunnyboys | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Lonely Hearts | |||
| 01/01/82 | Recognitions | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Lonely Hearts | |||
I remember walking into this venue just after its refurbishment in about 1978…there was fake trees everywhere with teddy bears sitting in the limbs…I think at that stage it was called the “Teddy Bears Picnic” room…hardly suitable for hard rock acts…Am I imagining this or was that imported thai buddha I used to smoke already taking its toll?
I think you are correct Rick. If you check early 1979 in The Lonely hearts gig list you’ll see some listings for “The Teddy Bears Picnic” at Bexley North.
http://www.thelonelyhearts.com.au/itinerary.html
Cheers, Mark
thanks Mark…cant believe how intact my memory actually is.
The bears were removed after Daryl Braithwaite slagged them off one fine night the empty trees lasted a little bit longer.
I also recall the guys from Mother Goose having a crack at knocking the little blighters out of the trees as well.
The bears may have been fake but the trees were real Jindabyne Ghost Bums painted with irradescent paint. The large tree near the DJ booth was found on the roadside at Bexley and the 3 foot teddy was bought by the staff as a joke to the rest of the design. It was a favourite among many bands.
Sorry that should be Ghost GUMS. LOL
Jimmy Barnes destroyed the Teddy bear picnic one night he wasn’t impressed at all
Another night the ceiling on the stage was too low for Peter Garrett before the Oils started Peter grabbed his microphone stand turned it upside down and began to bash the roof in to accommodate his height so not to hit his head !!
So many amazing gigs have read through most comments I don’t think anyone mentioned Australian Crawl who I remembered played there a few times at least if not more.
We were so blessed for music in the day it was such a great period in Aussie music
Mad Gorilla did gigs at this pub unfortunately I don’t have dates. I also remember seeing John Mayall there around 79 or early 80. Jailbait also worked there & i’m pretty sure the Numbers too as did most of the bands doing the circuit. Sorry it’s a bit vague, maybe the Thai Buddha, or the…………?
The Models played on Christmas eve, 1982
There were about 30 patrons. THey previewed some songs from the upcoming Pleasure Of Your Company album, including “grab Bag” , later to become “I Hear Motion”
I have many fond memories of the Bexley North Hotel. 1976 thru to 1979. But my very favourite venue was the Hurstville Rivoli. 1974,75, while I was still at school. Is there anyone out there who has advertising posters or photos from that venue and that time. I am particularly interested in a poster advertising the gig on Saturday Nov 24 1974. Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs played. I have searched and searched and inquired all over but have come up with nothing. I am relying on those rock groupies like me but the ones who have kept their memorablia. Any lead or web site that you could refer me too would be greatly appreciated.
Yeh!, i remember the Bears alright, Played a “Headstone” gig at the Nth Bexley back then and our sound engineer Linda Walker ended up somehow owning one of those bears thanks to a staff member, she’s probably still got it.
I spent many, many evenings at “The North”. when I started going there the band venue was known as Pinky’s. The last known act I can remember playing there was Austintayshus in roughly 1986. It was known as the teddy bears picnic back in the earlier part of the 80’s. The place has had a facelift recently in the public bar, where the pool tables used to be, there’s a sea of poker machines. The old venue is still in there, but has been closed for many years. It was open as Pinky’s night club till the late 80’s and early 90’s and then was Crystal T’s strip joint for a short while but has been closed and unloved for over 20 years. I think they still hold private functions in there, but it hasn’t had a real reno since 1979.
Does anyone have any Cold Chisel gig posters from the Bexley North??
MANY MANY acts I saw here:
Dee Minor & the Dischords (did a reunion gig 25th May 2013), Ozone, Cyril B Bunter, Matt Finish, Australian Crawl, Outline, Ward 13, Outline (are reforming 2013), Kim Hart, Sharon O’Neill, Rose Tattoo, Icehouse, The Numbers, Moving Parts, Street level, Street Angel, Vixen, Cheetah, The Church, Heaven, Hands Off, The Imports, Norman Gunston, Dallimore, the Hitmen…. just to name a few. If you would like to check out my Dee Minor FB page I have posted dee Minor photos as well as a few other bands mainly from The Bexley north hotel, but some from the Forest Inn at bexley.
I saw the Angels there in the late 90s or early 80s.
Fantastic.
DJ’d and did band bookings at the Bexley North Hotel from mid 1977 to end 1980 – 81 and went through the disco era where on Thursday night it was rock night and Friday and Saturday night we would get 600 – 800 for a disco at the height of the disco era. Then in the late 1978 we started having bands . On a Monday night the big acts with up to 1000 in the venue for the likes of – The Angels, Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, Mi-Sex, Jimmy and the Boys, Icehouse, Skyhooks, Rose Tatoo, Mental as Anything, Men at Work, Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, Captain Matchbox. Great times in Aussie pub rock.
And probably most importantly the Stevie Wright comeback concert ! What a great show, was on a Sunday afternoon and proudly showed off that he had “no track marks” 🙂 still have the ticket and yep it was Pinky’s. Sooooo many great memories at this place
Thanks, great memories I saw quite bands there, also INXS, my younger brother too young to get in so he watched from the windows 🙂 – Mother Goose I saw there on a Monday night. Norman Gunston gig, only one where everyone had to sit down. Got as close as the doors for Stevie Wright gig but GF at the time didn’t want to go in..think one of the friends of a friend from bexley north was playing with Stevie at that time.. Paul the photos would be great of Dm, how do I find, many thanks
Hey Greg, just do a search in Facebook for Dee Minor & The Dischords, join the page and you’ll see them there among other bands including Mother Goose!. Speaking of Mother Goose, I recently got an 8 X 10 photo signed by the drummer, guitarist and keyboard player!
thanks Paul, just saw your ‘recent’ comment 🙂 – tracked down Marcel a couple of years ago as we were traveling through Dunedin (armed with my Goose albums for an autograph) however planets didn’t quite align – next trip 🙂 cheers
My French dad was the manager of the Bexley North Hotel during that period of the Teddy Bear’s Picnic Bar…He ran the biggest music venue in Sydney and I got to meet all the best bands in the country..I was also the check out chick on the door..every Friday night crowds of people were lined up around the block to attend. Please remember Mr Leslie Ernest Magrin..the man who gave us great live music every week.
Michelle, do you have any memorabilia from the Bexley North pub days. I grew up in Kingsgrove and was disappointed that I was too young to go to the concerts – my brother and sister went to many and we are still seeing the same bands 35 years later. Do you know why they stopped having bands ?
Hi Michelle
Was your Mum’s name Nellie Lee,just so I know I have the right Leslie Ernest Magrin
Maggi
Yes Maggi..She passed away in 1978. Did you know her?
Mischelle
I remember your Dad. I worked there when he was the manager.
They stopped putting on live bands for a number of reasons including noise complaints from neighbors, high incidents of violence in the car park, change of management, change of direction in the music industry during the late 80’s and financial incentives related to poker machines. .. I recently bought a gig poster repro from the North on e-bay and I have a schooner glass that was given to me by the bar manager the night before I moved interstate. . You might be able to purchase items from the pub itself too ..
Outline played there many times . We supported Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil and the Angels there and then headlined a bunch of times. Always a great gig.
I’m interested in resurrecting the old venue for a charity night for the local soccer club and school. I grew up in the area and caught the end of the pinkies era. We heard rumours of this mythical venue…. I went to an AGM in the old back room the other night… Would anyone be interested in a revival/ reunion for one night (?) only???
.. Yes .. mnegaffey@yahoo.com.au
I played in SILENCER,PERFECT STRANGERS,INTERNET AFFAIRS,40 FLOORS UP in Sydney
N.S.W. during the 80s and THE GENERATION 1987-88,PAPERBACK WRITERS,THE VIBRATIONS
And MAGIC BUS,TOURED IN 1988 with
THE MONKEES,also played in HOWLING ROOM,BEATROOT,BLUE MOVES in
W.A.,do you have any relevant information,posters etc?In the 80s we open for MENTAL AS ANYTHING,AT THE BEXLEY NORTH,also there we opened for THE CHURCH and THE HITMEN,other supports were THE CHOIRBOYS,ROB RILEY’S THE BEAST THE EUROGLIDERS,THE LONELY HEARTS as well as being a headline act.Venues include THE BEXLEY NORTH,THE STARDUST HOTEL CABRAMATTA,and more.Can you help me with this please,we played everywhere we could and worked hard too,loved it.Thankyou,Mark Ryan. markryansongs.com ,markryansongs@gmail.com .
….nobody seems to have mentioned that it was also a popular venue for OS acts as well…
I saw The Cure, Magazine and The Teardrop Explodes there in the early eighties..
It was my regular drinking hole on Monday nights…strangely enough.
HAHAHAHA!!!! PINKY’S! was our local in the 80’s!
spent many a great night down there, would race up the Forrest at Bexley for ya Buddah or Putty and punch a few down in ya car outside of Flemming’s supermarket in the car park! then past Ronnie the midget biker on the door – dodge Tom the big black fella roaming inside, with ya fake ID and get smashed to some TOP Bands!
I was lucky enough to have seen Cold Chisel at the Bexley Nprth “Teddy Bear Bar” when Jimmy climbed the trees trying to root the teddy bears! You couldn’t move and the crowd was going nuts! I was at the bar when the publican ran off to the stage and turned off the power.
He had to quickly turn it back on as there was going to be a riot!
They played on with Jimmy swigging the vodka bottle, and after WILD THING with Jimmy all over the place and crowd surfing, the owner finally shut it down!
What a night!!!
I lived in Demaine avenue and on a quiet Sunday arvo started up the drilling rig with a mate on the site of the to be built bexley nth pub. Created quite a stir in a quiet suburb. Had first schooner of “ Miller’s” there cost me 2shillings n six pence. The only bouncer “Peter” drove a Coca Cola truck during the day. The highlight at the end of the night was who could beat Pete. Had a beer gut that not many could reach over. Over many years the only guy who got over him was a mate since passed “Terry Reynolds” played half for Canterbury.
Hi Everyone,
My daughter (FB: The Music Producer) and I just reopened The Bexley North Band room.
Now: The Bexley North Ballroom.
I saw many, many brilliant bands there in the 80’s and we want to bring it back to what it was.
Please feel free to contact us if you want to play (bands/performers) or want to know what we have planned and are booking.
Todd Graham 0433 513 181
That’s great to hear .. I wish your venture great success
Met my wife there before, as rumour has it, the Pub changed hands after a high-stakes Mahjong game. Schooner in one hand, ciggy in the other, feet sticking to the carpet, no air-con listening to great live music. Heaven.
Jeff st John was playing the place was packed to the rafters n Jeff says who wants to come up on stage n dance so the girl friend her friend n I got up n Jeff did his usual wheel stands n so forth was a great night
It was around 81 82 n Kim Humphreys band was Jeff’s
backing band that night
Great memories from the 80’s.
Went to the Stevie Wright concert. Great nights drinking & playing pool.
Remember the lovely legs comps in Pinkies?
Some one told me AC DC played there once, but I assume it would be common knowledge if that was true – does anyone know?
My Local, saw so many great bands (as most were in the 80’s) so many great memories. One of the big events was Stevie Wright’s “comeback” gig on a Sunday afternoon.