The Tote's New Owners Thank Music Community for 'Astronomical Support'

Shane Hilton and Leanne Chance, owners of inner Melbourne venue The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, have sealed the deal on Collingwood pub and live music venue The Tote Hotel. The sale was aided by an unprecedented Pozible campaign, which reached its $3 million target courtesy of contributions from 12,000 music lovers and community members.

“Thanks to the astronomical support of the wider music community – which [led] to the world’s biggest music-based crowdfunding campaign – the Tote will survive as a live music venue forever,” Hilton and Chance said in a statement.

“We’re in awe of what the Melbourne and Australian music community has achieved over the last six months” – Shane Hilton and Leanne Chance

The Tote began hosting local punk, grunge and metal gigs in 1981 and has welcomed the likes of The Drones, Cosmic Psychos, Magic Dirt, The Birthday Party, The White Stripes, Mudhoney and Lemonheads to its stage over the past 42 years.

The Tote nearly closed down in 2010 after being assessed as a “high-risk” venue following a change in liquor licensing laws. Previous owner Bruce Milne said the measures required to overcome the “high-risk” status – such as installing CCTV and bringing in more security – would make operating the Tote untenable.

But after thousands took to the streets in a rally to save the venue, Jon Perring, Sam Crupi and the late Andy Portokallis stepped in as the Tote’s new owners. The venue has continued to operate ever since, including during the acquisition negotiations, but not without controversy.

Tote staff reported that they had not been paid superannuation in 2021, prompting the pub to self-report to the ATO and put a superannuation repayment plan in place. Later that year, Perring announced the Tote’s super arrears had been paid out in full.

“We are very happy and excited to hand The Tote over to Shane and Leanne, whom we know are so passionate about live music,” Perring said in a statement regarding the sale of the Tote. “It’s with great relief that we leave The Tote behind in full knowledge that it will continue to be Melbourne’s and Australia’s home of rock’n’roll, and that it will continue the venue’s 42 year history of live music culture.”

While Perring and the new owners are keeping the details of the sale private, they’ve confirmed existing staff will retain their jobs and that the venue’s three PA systems will remain in house.

“This cultural institution and beating heart of the Australian music space would not exist without the incredible work and endurance of Jon, Sam and Andy, and the owners who built the venue up before them,” Hilton and Chance said in their joint statement. “We’d like to thank Jon and Sam for entrusting us with the Tote, and for giving us the blessing to lead it into its future.”

The Tote’s new owners – who are continuing to operate The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar on Victoria Street in the city – hope their acquisition of the venue will lead to increased support for Australia’s independent music community.

“We want to take a moment to encourage the wider community, the media, government, industry stakeholders and every other person in Australia to truly start listening to and supporting the world-class talent and culture that the independent music community in Australia continues to produce, in spite of all the difficulties we face,” they said. “Go to the shows, buy the albums, wear the t-shirts and listen to C.O.F.F.I.N.”