I remember somebody writing that Brunswick Street is the new King Street, and walking along there on a Saturday night, it’s hard to with this statement. Sure, there are still some interesting venues and business along the strip, but there are a number of venues that seem to attract a disproportionate number of annoying drunks.
I remember visiting Brunswick Street as a child in the early to mid-80s. In the early 90s, in my early 20s, I spent quite a bit of time there, and already it had changed a lot. Jump forward to 2004, and living near Brunswick Street, it bears little resemblance to the street I remember from 25 years ago.
Brunswick Street jumped the shark some years ago, but I don’t think you can put it down to a single event. Rather, it’s been a gradual slide.
Some of the notable events in the dumbing down of Brunswick Street that I can think of are:
- the opening of 7-11 on the corner of Johnston and Brunswick streets
- the closing of the Punters’ Club
- the opening of generic cafes like Joe’s Garage and Red Tongue
I’m sure there are other events. Can you think of any?
1. gentrification
2. lack of cheap housing / rentals
3. ministry of style
4. going from having half a dozen op shops to zero
5. no brunswick st festival
Gentrification is a pretty board term. Do you have any specific examples apart from what you’ve mentioned?
There is an op shop – near Newtown Social Club. I think you’re generally right, but then it’s not that simple. The ultra daggy homewares shop that opened next to Polly failed and closed after just 4 months, and that’s a sign the surrounding community is not as bad as you suggest! See http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2009/05/25/too-much-glamour-is-too-much/
Compared to the havoc wreaked on high streets in London (where even the cooler streets typically have loads of chain stores & generic US style coffee shops) for example, Brunswick Street has held up well. There’s no doubt it used to be a cooler, more low-key strip, but it frustrates me when people talk as though it’s almost dead- still one of the world’s most diverse neighbourhood streets that’s managed to retain many of its loved older businesses & attracted some fantastic newcomers- you need to put it in context.
brunswick st IS dead.
too much lame ass late night hiphop from low brow venues such as 1st floor / laundry / bimbos.
too many outer suburban thugs bringing in their sh_thouse attitudes. even the nightcat is full of sleezebags these days – they even scan ids! what a joke.
too many chain stores – the presence of large supermarkets signals the final transition into latte sipping yuppie day time paradise
over zealous council passed fun prohibitive laws – for example – couches can’t be placed on the street outside venues
no more brunswick st party
NO MORE FUN!!!!
give it 5 – 10 years and it will be just another chapel st.