Fred Again to conferences: the story behind one of Melbourne’s hottest event spaces

Tucked away in Fishermans Bend, The Timber Yard sits amid warehouses, apartments, and car dealerships and while its name pays homage to its past life, what lies behind the front gate is one of Melbourne’s most unique event spaces.

Located at 351 Plummer St in Port Melbourne, the former timber fabrication factory is a blank canvas that allows clients to design bespoke events tailored to their needs and vision.

Originally founded with the intention of becoming a music venue, The Timber Yard has since evolved into a space not only loved by international acts like Fred Again, but also a sought-after destination for weddings and corporate functions.

And it was all a happy accident, according to one of the company’s founders, Gideon Luber, who said it wasn’t until they hosted the AFL Christmas party in 2018 that they realised the enormous potential for corporate events.

“We started seeing inquiries from companies wanting to do product launches, awards nights, and automotive events,” he said. “It really pushed us to pivot the business and refit the venue to support large-scale corporate functions.”

These events now account for around 70 per cent of their business. However, that hasn’t compromised their original mission of creating a dedicated music venue.

On September 26, New York’s Indo Warehouse will perform following their Coachella debut earlier this year, while Berlin’s most notorious collective, Live From Earth, will also take the stage in October.

Still, the lead-up to these events will be packed with corporate bookings. Mr Luber noted that a key aspect of their business model was the ability to transform the venue within 24 hours to suit a wide range of events.

“We can turn the venue around from a major corporate event overnight into a conference set-up the next morning – and then a music event the following day,” he said.

The founders have also made a conscious effort to embrace the site’s past as a timber fabrication factory.

“Everything at The Timber Yard has been designed with intention – from upcycled furnishings to preserved structural elements. We wanted to respect the site’s history,” Mr Luber said.

And while the types of events Mr Luber originally set out to host have evolved, at its core, the venue has stayed true to its original plan. The freedom it offers clients and integrity of the site, has allowed it to be appreciated by more people than the founders could have ever imagined. •