Connections nightclub in Perth is marking 50 years since it opened in 1975, when homosexuality was still illegal in Western Australia. The club has weathered recessions, a pandemic, and shifting social attitudes to become a landmark for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Co-owner Tim Brown, who has worked at Connections for nearly 35 years, said the club was an "incredible thing" when it first opened in Northbridge. At that time, homosexuality was illegal for men and a major social taboo, forcing earlier queer venues to operate underground with coded access.
Brown recalled that when he started working at Connections in 1991, there was still a 'no cameras' policy because patrons feared being photographed in a gay venue. Homosexuality was decriminalised in WA in 1990, with the age of consent equalised in 2002.
Connections became a place where people could escape and be themselves, Brown said, noting that it welcomed diverse groups including gays, lesbians, young, old, goths, and punks. This mix was unusual compared to larger cities where subcultures often had separate venues.
In the 1990s, after the AIDS crisis, the club began attracting more people from outside the queer community, drawn by its reputation for great music and a fun atmosphere. Connections has survived the ups and downs of Northbridge's popularity, COVID-19, and cost-of-living crises.
Brown suspects Connections is the longest-running queer club in the Southern Hemisphere. Its 50th birthday celebrations have been ongoing for months, culminating in a finale on December 13 with nine DJs and a cabaret. A staff party drew nearly 300 former employees, including a glassie from opening night and a manager from the 1980s.
