Zac Coligan outside the now-demolished old Jade Monkey venue. Photo: Nat Rogers/InDaily

After a drawn-out battle, live music venue the Jade Monkey has finally won a liquor licence and will open soon in Flinders Street in the city.

Co-owner Zac Coligan yesterday told InDaily he expected to be in the new premises – a small church building near the former St Pauls Anglican Church site – in the next couple of weeks.

Liquor licence negotiations with the nearby Bethlehem Lutheran Church had appeared to be deadlocked, with Coligan claiming the Church’s conditions were untenable.


But after an intervention from the Australian Hotels Association, Coligan has decided instead to accept all of the church’s demands.

“We were left with no choice but to agree to everything until they finally withdrew their objection,” Coligan told InDaily.

“This has been very difficult for our family but hopefully now we will be able to proceed without further interference.

“The church with their solicitors and barrister drew out the process by continuing to change their minds and make new demands.”

Coligan told Radio Adelaide in May the conditions the Church wanted meant “the business is not looking financially viable”.

A spokesman for the church, Ian Liddell, said the church was “delighted with the work our Barrister and Solicitor did”.

“Their job was to protect the Church’s position that has been there since 1872,” he said.

“The Jade Monkey originally applied for a licence with no conditions.

“We were not given any notice by the Jade Monkey that they intended to open and found out through a third party in December of their intent.


“All that said and done we wish The Jade Monkey every success. As we said all along we just want to continue our church activities in a pleasant environment.”

Since the Jade’s original Twin Street premises closed in October to make way for a new city hotel, Coligan has been battling to find a new spot.

Without wanting to be he became the cause celebre for the city’s live music and vibrancy advocates. Lobbying and media attention drew the Adelaide City Council and State Government into the debate, both of whom pledged to help rehome the venue. Even the Premier Jay Weatherill got involved, promising in February 2012 to do what he could to help.

It has been nearly nine months since the Jade’s old venue closed, and the drawn-out process has provided ammunition for critics of the current licensing and planning regime for music venues.

Former Renew Adelaide head Ianto Ware claims the current system is broken and hinders the ability of live music venues to get licences.

The St Pauls site has been vacant since early 2012 after nightclub Heaven closed down.

The new venue will require an extensive fit out, meaning Coligan wasn’t willing to put a firm opening date on it yesterday.

“We need to do some major works before we open to deal with the required sound-proofing.”

Weatherill, who pledged his help to get Coligan and his team into a new venue, welcomed the news yesterday.

“It is good news for South Australia’s live music scene that the Jade Monkey has secured a home after a period of uncertainty,” he said in a statement issued to InDaily.

“Government representatives have been assisting the Jade Monkey with relocating and it is pleasing that they can now get on with doing what they do best – supporting our up-and-coming musicians.”

Help our journalists uncover the facts In times like these InDaily provides valuable, local independent journalism in South Australia. As a news organisation it offers an alternative to The Advertiser, a different voice and a closer look at what is happening in our city and state for free. Any contribution to help fund our work is appreciated. Please click below to donate to InDaily. Donate here Powered by PressPatron

Share Linkedin Email