Historical information

The Hardware Club was established in the 1980s in Hardware House, Hardware Lane Melbourne by Andrew Maine, Jules Taylor and Paul Jackson, who all worked together at 3RRR. Artists, fashion designers, and musicians all flocked to the Club in the 1980s. It was the place to experiment with fashion and dance to dawn at a time when may venues closed early. Hardware Houses rooms were perfectly suited for the purpose, its polished wooden floorboards ideal for a dance floor,mezzanine floor for spectators, and crucially the Club had two bars and a 24 hour licence. Initially the trio from 3RRR took over the club on Friday nights only , and then other nights followed. In 1983 graphic Designer Robert Pearce was commissioned to design this poster for The Hardware Club. According to Jules Taylor it was inspired by "subways of New York with a touch of Berlin and Film Noir ..."

Ann Carew