Coogee Bay Hotel’s live music venue Selina’s could be demolished for a new $112million development

It was the home of Sydney’s rock scene in the ’80s and ’90s, hosting acts such as Nirvana, Cold Chisel, Hoodoo Gurus and INXS, but now Coogee Bay Hotel’s historic music venue Selina’s could be torn down.

The building is set to be demolished to make way for a $112million development including a five-storey residential building with 60 apartments, pending council approval.

If the council approves the plans, it’ll a sombre moment for fans of the popular 2500-capacity venue that showcased some of the best live music and pub rock in Australia.

End of an era: Coogee Bay Hotel’s famous music venue Selina’s – which played host to Nirvana, Cold Chisel and INXS – could soon be demolished to make way for a $112million development

‘It was a golden, wonderful time for both rock and roll bands, and rock and roll fans. And Selina’s came to epitomise the pub rock era in Australia,’ recalled former band manager and producer Stuart Coupe in an interview with Nine. 

‘Jam packed against 2000 of your nearest and dearest best friends watching your favourite rock and roll bands; it was a special time,’ he continued.

Playing Selina’s was a precursor to rock stardom for many Aussie bands, and was an unforgettable venue for music lovers from surrounding suburbs. 

‘It was a golden, wonderful time for both rock and roll bands, and rock and roll fans’: The venue  was the home of Sydney’s rock scene in the ’80s and ’90s

Big headliners: Playing Selina’s was a precursor to rock stardom for many Aussie bands, and was an unforgettable venue for music lovers from surrounding suburbs

‘It had a big stage, the sight lines were really good,’ Coupe said. ‘If you were headlining at Selina’s, you were doing very, very well.’

Selina’s hosted gigs for both local and international groups, with seminal grunge band Nirvana playing there in 1992 during their only Australian tour. 

Selina’s closed in 2009, with Midnight Oil delivering the final on-stage performance. 

The best in rock and roll: Selina’s hosted gigs for both local and international groups

All good things: Selina’s closed in 2009, with Midnight Oil delivering the final performance

The site is currently receiving final council approvals before the high-cost developments begin.

The locale will see 60 residential units above the commercial premises and a supermarket, hotel accommodation with 29 rooms, levels of underground car parks and a laneway filled with an array of new restaurants. 

It might appear different to those who remembered the site, but Selina’s will always have a place in the hearts of Sydneysiders who got to see some of the world’s best bands play in their own backyard.

Memories: Selina’s will always have a place in the hearts of Sydneysiders who got to see some of the world’s best bands play in their own backyard