A round of applause for the new Roundhouse
On Friday 23rd November, hundreds of UNSW graduates congregated at the Roundhouse at UNSW’s Kensington campus to usher in a new era for this iconic venue.
The Roundhouse Revival was an exclusive event for alumni and friends to celebrate the official relaunch of the Roundhouse since renovations were carried out last year.
Since opening in 1961, the Roundhouse has been the beating heart of campus life, the epicentre of UNSW social events, and a mainstay of the Sydney music scene. Over almost 60 years of existence, the space has accommodated approximately 250,000 students passing through its doors, as well as thousands of the general public. It has played host to all manner of social activity including live bands, gala dinners, comedy nights, conferences and even a conga line protest (among many others).
Now fully revamped and restored to its former glory, the circular sensation reopened its doors to our alumni community, who enjoyed a fantastic mix of live music across classic rock and electronic beats.
The night was a celebration of community, as alumni from across a diverse range of ages and backgrounds came together to relive fond memories while creating new ones. To cap off a truly alumni-centric occasion, the entertainment for the evening included a number of musicians who were also proud alumni and lovers of the Roundhouse.
Reviving the Roundhouse
Crowds began to stream into the venue during an eclectic mix of house music from DJ Chad, with many beginning to reserve their places on the dancefloor in preparation for the night ahead. The festivities officially kicked off with a video welcome from David Gonski AC – UNSW Chancellor, alumnus, and renowned Roundhouse enthusiast.
“The Roundhouse is, for every alumnus of UNSW, an incredible building…it was the heart of the place, something deeply identifiable at UNSW, and an incredibly innovative place architecturally,” he said. “I’m delighted we're all here today to celebrate its rebirth. It’s a wonderful reconstruction of a great building and I hope you enjoy tonight as much as I know I will.”
Things starting heating up with Sydney cover band Furnace and the Fundamentals who set the party vibe, thrilling alums with a constant flow of fiery favourites. Their energetic set ranged from traditional hits from the Beatles, Queen and Michael Jackson to more modern bangers from Beyoncé and Mark Ronson, and even some unexpected (yet very welcome) Disney classics peppered in.
The energy stayed high after a quick breather, as alumni were treated to a fantastic set by electro dance outfit The Potbelleez, which saw alumni enjoy the festivities well into the night. The hit band layered on a chilled rock atmosphere, with crowds swaying in unison to their well-known anthems Don’t Hold Back and Are You With Me, along with many others.
The night was a fantastic tribute to a classic venue which has served up great experiences for UNSW students and alumni for generations. the Roundhouse has long been a lynchpin to the UNSW community whose involvement there over the years has represented much more than just the events it has played host to.
It has been a place of dancing and mischief for many university friends; the scene where married couples shared their first kiss or indeed held their weddings; or a place where international students recall finding solace in the thriving social community of their new home. It’s also been a revolving door of famous performers from Nick Cave, Peter Garett, Foo Fighters, Fatboy Slim, and the Living End.
Round 2 for this relic
In mid-2016, the Roundhouse closed its doors for almost a year to undertake a $25 million redevelopment to ensure the building would continue to host a wealth of social activities for generations to come. Its new facelift has solidified it as one the Sydney’s best facilities for bands and large events with a modern vibe, upgraded acoustics and AV systems, while still maintaining the venue’s much-loved circular design and unique features.
The Roundhouse Revival event saw alumni come together to pay tribute to the space’s glorious past while honouring the cutting-edge contemporary spirit embedded in its DNA.
“[The Roundhouse] represents what is the heart of a UNSW alumni’s feelings. As Chancellor, it would be most unwise of me to comment on the wildness of those days... but what a wonderful building it is. What a lot of memories it knows. And I sincerely hope it never publishes a book.”
David Gonski AC, UNSW Chancellor and alumnus (BCom ’76, LLB ’77)