Northcote Social

The Northcote Social artwork by Kerrie Gottliebsen is dedicated to the iconic and much loved live music venue and pub in High Street Northote. Back in my 20’s I managed Street Press magazine Inpress. Although I often hung around pubs in Brunswick Street, Smith Street and Gertrude Street, you would usually find me in a St Kilda pub.

Other than dropping in for the odd beer, the last time I saw a band here was the Dirty Three in 2006 (an all time fave). I remember being disappointed that I couldn’t smoke inside. Especially given Warren Ellis used to stick a ciggie in the end of his violin.

The pub as it is known now opened in 2004 and was previously known as the Commercial Hotel. The name is still proudly displayed on the High Street façade.

Originally opened as the Shannon Hotel in 1854, the pub first served as a layover for carriage and bullock drivers. It also played a role in local political life, including holding meetings in the early 1890s of the local branch of the Progressive Political League, later to become the Australian Labour Party. Demolished and rebuilt in the mid-1890s it passed through many hands before being run by the Northcote Park Football club.

By the late 1980s the pub was one of the few left in the area still holding gigs. Today the venue is a destination for excellent local and international acts and great food.

The Northcote Social artwork would make a great gift for lovers of Melbourne’s North, Northcote and the Northcote Social Club, and is available in A4, A3, A2, A1 and the super enormous A0.

You can visit the Northcote Social Club here.