Image: You can catch some energetic drag at Osborne Sundays. Image: Beau
The Osborne
The Osborne is a swanky multi-level rooftop and bar on Commercial Road which hosts popular gay event “Osborne Sundays”.
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The Osborne is a swanky multi-level rooftop and bar on Commercial Road which hosts popular gay event “Osborne Sundays”.
The venue is not a full-time queer venue (although it once was, see Gay History below), so it attacts a fairly mixed crowd with many very fashionable girls out with their gay best friends. However, there is enough of a queer representation to make it feel like a gay space. It has a slightly more upmarket feel than other gay bars - think button-up shirts rather than t-shirts.
Sundays are very popular in the late afternoon and early evening and can get quite a buzz. On a fine day, the roof retracts and DJs pump out tunes to a packed dance floor as the sun sets over South Yarra.
This area south of the river owns the Sunday set with 3 regular events to close out the weekend: Railway Sundays in Windsor, Emerson Sundays down the street and Osborne Sundays (no points for name creativity to any of these venues).
The Osborne was formerly gay clubbing mecca The Xchange which operated for 25 years from 1986 to 2011. It was part of a Commercial Road gay precinct with numerous other gay establishments including former institution, the Market (now operating as The Emerson). However, the dream came to an end in 2011 when the anchor bars the Xchange and the Market closed their doors which marked the end of this area’s reign as Melbourne’s gay village.
Website
Instagram
Location
119 Commercial Road, South Yarra 3141
Contact
(03) 9866 7918
Email
Crowd
Mostly straight but hosts queer events
Hours
Sunday
3:00pm - 10:00pm
Osborne Sundays
DJs and drag shows in swanky rooftop bar
