Iconic Carlton venue likely to close this year

The curtain is closing on an iconic Melbourne venue.

The owners of historic Carlton pub and live music venue, The John Curtin Hotel, will sell the 150-year-old building after the lease expires in November.

In a Facebook post, the Carlton venue says the owners of the building are selling up, “making way, most likely for apartments”.

“We … have a lease until the end of Nov this year. Beyond that, we have no idea what the developers will have planned for us,” the post read.

The pub has in the past been a meeting place for Labor and union figures, including Bob Hawke.

The announcement has prompted sadness among live music fans and labour movement activists.

Victorian trade unions are in talks to save the pub, which is named after wartime Labor Prime Minister John Curtin and situated across the road from Victorian Trades Hall.

Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, Luke Hilakari, says it’s “just a really special place”.

“I’ll be talking to unions today about whether we can pull some money together and see whether we can purchase the place,” he told Ross and Russel.

But Mr Hilakari says it’s not just this pub that needs support.

“Part of Melbourne’s wonderful character is the pub scene, is the old pubs, and what do we do about protecting all of them? That’s the conversation we need to have.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about the pub and what unions are doing to try and save it

Image: The Curtin / Facebook