Sydney Gay Information

Mardi-Gras

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is the largest gay party in the world, attracting over half a million people to Sydney's Oxford Street parade.  This month-long festival ends with a two and a half hour parade and all night dance party.  Join in on this Australian celebration of alternative lifestyles and sexuality. Hotel reservations and tickets to the party are usually sold out long in advance.  So book early to avoid disappointment.

Queens Birthday

The Queens Birthday is celebrated on the second Monday of June in Sydney making it a long weekend where locals like to use the excuse to party up and down the Oxford Street night clubs. Extended trading hours and nightly shows add a little bling to Sydney's winter.

Sleaze Ball

Originally began as a fund raiser for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Sleaze Ball has since established itself as its own event in Australia's gay calendar. The all-night dance party attracts over 18,000 revellers with each year having a different theme. Because of the huge demand, tickets can be difficult to get so start making arrangements early.

Inquisition

The closing party to Leather Pride Week. One of the most eagerly awaited parties of the year, in a town that loves to party!  Without doubt the "gayest" party staged each year. Held in the Dome and Kensington halls at the Royal Agricultural Show grounds in Paddington (R.A.S.). Always a hot and sleazy party with great music and lights, sensational shows and lots of leather & flesh! WARNING The party always sells out fast!

Hand in Hand

Hand in Hand "On Heat" is the only major dance party held in Sydney each year that fundraises for HIV/AIDS. The producer is the AIDS Council of NSW. Held each year on the Saturday night of the long weekend in June, the party is the fourth largest dance event on the Sydney calendar.

The Diva Awards

Drag award ceremony to recognize the work and talent of people & groups in a range of 15 categories. These include DJ's, choreography, costume design, venue, community work and of course drag. Best show, solo, popular performer, Bitch of the Year, popular show, show cast, and the two big ones, Entertainer of the Year & Hall of Fame. Awards are decided by both a panel of 7 judges and the public. The evening itself, is a glittering occasion. Sydney's drag queens, community leaders and friends dress to the max. It's a night of high fashion & even higher hair! Believe us when we say, the competition is fierce!! Apart from the awards, the DIVA committee also presents spectacular entertainment showcasing the cream of the town's performers, designers and choreographers.

Shop Yourself Stupid

This annual event is a fundraiser for the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF). The foundation is named after Bobby Goldsmith who was one of the first people in Sydney to die from HIV/AIDS. The foundation provides direct financial assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS. The day is a crazy mixture of drag queens, performance, shopping and cocktails. Up to a hundred or so shops pledge a percentage of their takings for the day to the foundation. Popular gay hotels (licensed) like the Oxford, Albury & Exchange stage entertainment both inside & outside their venues.  Hunky boys & scary drag queens sell BGF stickers up and down Oxford Street in Paddington & Darlinghurst and King Street in Newtown. Traffic is often bought to a standstill around Taylor Square as outrageous drag queens work the street.  As this event always happens on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, many people try out their outfits (or recycle last years) and promenade up and down the streets. Some of the most funny looks can be seen on this day, as once a year drags compete with the more familiar professionals. Buy something from a participating shop or a drink and you are in for a wow of a day.

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Bars and Clubs

Arq

After a mammoth five-year conception, Arq Sydney has had everyone talking since its revolving doors first began to spin in 1999. With two dance levels (complete with two different styles of music) and a mezzanine level (to check out the talent from above), Arq fast became the hottest venue on the strip. Its versatile design, top-notch sound, drag kings and queens and rotating theme nights ensure the crowds will continue to flock forth.

16 Flinders Street Surry Hills (a few metres from Taylor Square)
Telephone: (02) 9380 8700.

Barracks Bar

The Barracks Bar is Sydney's bar for men to meet men. An underground haven for the leather community, Bears, and other gay alternative sub-cultures to come together to create an atmosphere that you can taste. It has built a reputation as being a bar for those who know what they want. Pokies, pool tables and pinball, and the infamous Dungeon Bar for Sirs' pleasure. Pool comp Wednesday 9:00pm. Sunday night there is a traditional Sunday roast, 6:00 - 9:30pm.

Trading hours (no pun intended):
Monday to Sunday, 5pm to 3am.

Corner of Flinders and Bourke St Taylor Square

Gas

Gas is one the latest and most stylish additions to the Sydney nightclub scene. Sean Finally and Ian Spicer cleverly transformed what was originally a gas tank for old Sydney town into the sleekly designed establishment that has clubbers queuing for entry. The sensational interiors incorporate three bars, four lounge areas, a sprung dance floor, another huge dance floor and a mezzanine level where you can watch it all happen. Check out Gang Bang on Sunday nights, where cult DJ's Ben Drayton and Stephen Alkins attract a cool, predominately gay crowd.

477 Pitt Street
Haymarket, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 9211 3038

How to get there:

Gas is located in Haymarket, right next to Sydney's China town. The best way to get to this part of town is to travel along George Street, one of the main roads that runs from the harbour to downtown Haymarket. Haymarket is also between two of the city's main train stations: Town Hall and Central Stations.

Home

When mega club Home opened in 1998, the who's who of funky Sydney was there to celebrate. After such an auspicious beginning, it's little wonder that Home has been drawing the crowds in ever since. Apart from the awesome multi-level interiors, the interesting thing about Home is that it is located in an area away from most of the city's other clubs and bars - Cockle Bay, overlooking Darling Harbour. This means that you will have to catch a cab to get there, but it's worth it because the up market area is gloriously free of the seedy elements you will encounter around Oxford Street and Darlinghurst. The club runs gay nights one Friday night per month. Call the number below for details.

Cockle Bay Wharf
Wheats Rd, Sydney 2000
Telephone: (02) 9266 0600

How to get there:

Cockle Bay is right next to Darling Harbour, one of Sydney's major attractions. It is a ten minute walk from Town Hall station, or a short cab ride from the eastern suburbs. If you want to drive, there are parking stations located at Darling Harbour.

Midnight Shift

Day and night, night and day, the Midnight Shift is abuzz with cruising. This Oxford St institution attracts people of all sorts: most, but not all, are gay men. The two level bar and club is split into three areas - with the Video Bar and Locker Room on level one, and a nightclub (referred to simply as 'upstairs') on level two.
Down in the Video Bar, the constant pop clips displayed on large monitors provide the soundtrack to the cruising; while in the Locker Room, even more cruising occurs to the clink of pool balls and the sounds selected by popular DJ's.  Upstairs at the Shift Sydney's hottest DJ's are complimented by excellent lighting and lasers. There are two bars and comfy lounges, too. Once a month, a special theme party is held; and every Saturday night is a boys-only zone. Trading hours Downstairs: 7 days, 12nn - very late. Upstairs: Thurs - Sun, 11pm - 6-7am.

85 Oxford St Darlinghurst
Telephone: (02) 9360 4319

How to get there:

The Midnight Shift is located on Oxford St, between Crown and Riley. Parking is limited, so if you aren't within walking distance, hop on a bus from the city or the eastern suburbs, or cab it. Oxford St is a fifteen minute walk from Town Hall station, or ten from Museum.

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