THE BRUNSWICK BALLROOM STORY
The Brunswick Ballroom’s Story begins with John
Apostolakos, who arrived in Australia from Greece
in 1953 and slowly built his dream along Sydney
Road, acquiring the shopfronts at 314-318 Brunswick
and the Milliners factory above. He co-founded the
legendary Bombay Rock with Michael Gudinski,
and in the 1980s transformed his Sydney Road
properties into the Metropolis Ballroom, pouring
his heart into every detail Of the space.
The building has lived many lives since, hosting
Greek wedding receptions, serving as a French
restaurant, and operating as live music venue
The Spotted Mallard. When the world pressed
pause in 2020, the Andrew Kay team saw an
opportunity to honor this rich history While creating
something new. After a careful renovation led by
Will Ewing, the Brunswick Ballroom opened in
February 2021 carrying forward John’s original
vision Of a space where music and community
come together, now reimagined as one of
Australia’s finest live music venues.
