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title: "Hudson Ballroom Events | Sydney, New South Wales | Ticket Fairy"
description: "Browse upcoming and past events at Hudson Ballroom in Sydney, New South Wales. Find dates, event details and tickets."
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# Events at Hudson Ballroom

Browse upcoming and past events at Hudson Ballroom in Sydney, New South Wales. Find dates, event details and tickets.

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                [![Colours presents : Sam Binga flyer](https://www.ticketfairy.com/uploaded/thumbnails/db_file_img_1160_300xauto.jpg)](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event/colours-presents-sam-binga)

### [Colours presents : Sam Binga](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event/colours-presents-sam-binga)

10:00 PM, Sat, 21 May 2016

May

21

Plan B Small Club

Sydney

###

### About Hudson Ballroom

**Hudson Ballroom is permanently closed and is not operating as a live-music venue.** The basement club at 53–55 Liverpool Street, Sydney, held its final party on 28 April 2018. Although the closure was initially described as temporary and required for renovations, the tenancy ended as plans progressed to convert the heritage building into a boutique hotel. There were no Hudson Ballroom performances between 2021 and 2026, and no events have been announced for later in 2026 or beyond.

The most recent development information reinforces that status. In 2026, the adaptive reuse of 53–55 Liverpool Street as a hotel went to tender, with the project team anticipating construction activity from late 2026. The proposal is centred on preserving and repurposing the heritage warehouse rather than reinstating Hudson Ballroom. Anyone encountering an old venue listing should therefore treat it as archival, not evidence that the club has reopened.

Hudson Ballroom occupied the basement of a locally heritage-listed Federation warehouse known as Buckle Chambers or Unison House. The complex consists of two connected five-storey warehouse buildings dating from 1901 and 1907, with substantial additions made to the rear building in 1911. Its exterior combines red and common brick, quarry-faced sandstone, arched bays and decorative sandstone details, while the interior retains hardwood posts, beams and timber floor framing.

### From Spanish Quarter to Goodgod, Plan B and Hudson

The basement’s entertainment history predates Hudson Ballroom. La Campana, a Spanish nightclub that later operated as a cabaret restaurant, opened at the address in 1990 during the peak of Sydney’s Spanish Quarter. Its back room became an unlikely testing ground for independent parties: a 2008 Ro Sham Bo event there featured Kid Cudi before his international breakthrough. Monthly Goodgod Small Club parties followed in 2009, initially requiring patrons to pass through the Spanish restaurant to reach the hidden room.

When the Spanish business failed, Goodgod’s organisers took over the wider basement and transformed it into a two-room venue. From 2010 to 2015, Goodgod Small Club became one of Sydney’s most influential small clubs, combining emerging bands, international DJs, experimental programming, food and late-night dancing. Its founders sold the business in 2015, with Goodgod’s final dance held on 12 December and successor Plan B Small Club opening four days later.

Plan B was always intended as a transitional identity. New owner Clark Mak and partners retained the existing community, promoters and programming while developing a longer-term concept. The venue officially became Hudson Ballroom in October 2016, a name partly inspired by New York streets and the owners’ desire to give the club its own identity without abandoning the basement’s musical legacy.

Hudson operated for roughly 18 months under that name. Its owners announced an indefinite renovation closure in April 2018, saying heritage restrictions had previously prevented substantial upgrades. By November, it was clear the space would not return as a music venue. The City of Sydney subsequently identified Hudson Ballroom as a lost cultural space whose lease had ended because of the building’s proposed hotel conversion.

### Events and Programming

Hudson Ballroom balanced touring concerts with recurring club nights, DJ parties, pop-culture events and trivia. Its musical range included indie rock, electronic music, hip-hop, grime, dancehall, R&B, disco, house and nostalgic pop. Regular or recurring nights included Halfway Crooks, Sidechains, Rhythm of the Night, Dutty Dancing, Player Haters Club, Freshly Squeezed and IZMZ Girls. Themed events covered everything from 1990s and 2000s hits to Studio Ghibli, Kath & Kim and High School Musical.

Artists documented during the Hudson era include SOPHIE, Masego, Fakear, Anna of the North, Fazerdaze, Body Type, Genesis Owusu, Ruby Fields, Alex Lahey, Middle Kids, Jack River, Mallrat, Alice Ivy, Tired Lion and Bleeding Knees Club. Diplo also played an intimate afterparty in the back room with Swick and Nina Las Vegas. These bookings illustrate Hudson’s role: it could present rising Australian acts one night, an international electronic artist the next and a deliberately unserious singalong party afterwards.

There is no programming from 2021–2026 to summarise because the venue had already closed. Similarly, there is no current season, recurring club night, resident promoter or future ticket inventory. Historical listings that say “no upcoming events” have remained online, but they should not be interpreted as a temporary gap between shows.

### Tickets and Booking

No legitimate Hudson Ballroom tickets are currently on sale, and there is no operating box office. During the venue’s active period, admission depended on the event: some birthday parties and front-bar sessions were free, ordinary club nights were often around $5–$15, and larger themed events, touring performances or New Year’s Eve parties commonly ranged from approximately $17 to $28. Prices varied between advance release and door entry.

Popular touring shows and special afterparties could fill the compact room quickly, so advance purchase was once advisable. That advice is now historical only. A listing using the Hudson Ballroom name should be checked carefully for the actual city and address, as numerous hotels overseas also have function rooms called “Hudson Ballroom”.

### Seating, Capacity and Layout

Despite its name, Hudson Ballroom was not a traditional ballroom, seated theatre or grand function hall. It was an intimate, subterranean nightclub arranged around a front bar and a separate back-room Danceteria. The best-supported published capacity for the Danceteria is approximately **300 people**. No reliable public record confirms formal theatre, banquet or cabaret capacities, and precise room dimensions were not published.

The front room contained chunky white concrete booths, smaller tables, a light-up bar, DJ position, mirror ball and an area that changed from a dining space into a dance floor later in the evening. Historical descriptions indicate booths accommodating groups of up to about 12, with tables arranged for anything from couples to larger gatherings. These were informal bar settings rather than reserved concert seats.

The Danceteria was predominantly general admission and standing. A low, gently curved stage placed performers close to the audience, while a long bar ran within the room. The best concert views were generally near the centre and towards the stage; columns, booth edges, crowds near the bar and the room’s irregular cave-like shape could affect sightlines farther back. There were no documented permanent VIP boxes, balcony seats or numbered sections.

### Architecture, Design and Production

The club’s fit-out deliberately contrasted with the formal warehouse above it. Under Goodgod and substantially retained by Hudson, the front room evoked a playful 1950s Cuban or tropical bar through whitewashed booths, murals, plants, coloured lights and sculptural details designed by Hana Shimada. The deeper Danceteria was darker and rougher, with a timber dance floor, rustic bar and intimate taverna character. Hudson kept much of this layout rather than carrying out an immediate wholesale redesign.

The Danceteria was documented with a Nexo Alpha-E sound system during the Goodgod period, and contemporary accounts consistently described the system as powerful for such a small room. Hudson later received approval for a $30,000 City of Sydney grant intended to upgrade in-house instruments and audio equipment. However, the club closed soon afterwards, and there is no dependable evidence confirming which proposed upgrades were completed.

No verified final technical rider survives publicly for Hudson Ballroom. Exact speaker deployment, mixing console, monitor package, lighting desk, fixture count, rigging loads, stage measurements, power supply and backstage facilities should not be guessed. The documented production character was compact and club-oriented: a low stage, close audience, loud PA, DJ capability, basic concert lighting and little separation between performers and punters.

### Getting There and Parking

The former entrance was at **53–55 Liverpool Street, Sydney NSW 2000**, near the western side of the CBD, World Square and Chinatown. Town Hall Station is approximately 360 metres away and was the most convenient heavy-rail connection. Chinatown and Capitol Square light-rail stops serve the nearby George Street and Haymarket corridor, while Museum Station and several CBD bus corridors are also within walking distance.

There was no dedicated Hudson Ballroom car park. The large public car park beneath World Square remains the closest straightforward option for anyone visiting the surrounding precinct. At the time of research, pre-booked evening and weekend rates were around $18, while drive-up evening or weekend parking was generally up to about $22. Weekday daytime parking could be dramatically more expensive, reaching roughly $95 for a long stay. Rates and entry conditions can change.

For taxis or rideshare, use a legal stopping area on a nearby side street or around the World Square block rather than asking a driver to stop in a clearway, bus zone or active loading zone. Sydney CBD kerb restrictions are closely enforced, and rideshare vehicles do not have the same clearway stopping exemption as taxis.

### Inside the Former Venue

Historically, visitors descended from street level into a dim, busy basement. The atmosphere was casual, hot and frequently crowded, with music operating in both rooms. The front area provided cocktails, canned beer and seating, while the rear room hosted the main live act or club night. Cans were favoured for many beers partly because they were safer around an active dance floor than glass.

Belly Bao ran the in-house kitchen during the Plan B and Hudson periods, serving steamed buns and other late-night dishes from early evening until around 10pm. It was an important part of the venue’s music-food-nightlife formula, but it no longer operates at this address. Merchandise, when available, was generally connected to the performing artist rather than a permanent shop. There is no dependable record of a regular cloakroom or public Wi-Fi, and poor mobile reception was part of the basement experience.

### Accessibility and Visitor Policies

The former club was reached by stairs into a basement. Research did not confirm a public lift, step-free route, accessible viewing platform or accessible toilet within the Hudson fit-out. Visitors should not rely on historical listings claiming accessibility, and ADA compliance is not the applicable terminology in Australia. Because the venue is closed, it currently provides no public accessibility service or event assistance.

Most late-night Hudson events were for patrons aged 18 and over, with acceptable photo identification required where alcohol was served. Dress was generally casual, although costumes were encouraged for themed parties. No reliable surviving policy confirms maximum bag size, professional-camera rules, re-entry, water-bottle arrangements or prohibited items across all events; these matters appear to have varied by promoter.

### Nearby Amenities

The former site sits between World Square, Chinatown, Koreatown and Darling Harbour. The surrounding blocks offer extensive pre-show-style dining, including Korean barbecue, Thai food, Chinese restaurants, Japanese eateries, pubs, dessert shops and late-night casual meals. Accommodation is concentrated around World Square, Kent Street, George Street and Darling Harbour, generally within a five-to-15-minute walk.

There is no reason to arrive early for Hudson Ballroom itself because the venue has no public entrance or events. Anyone visiting the address for its nightlife history can combine the stop with Chinatown, Darling Square or the surviving warehouse streets and lanes around Sussex Street. Town Hall, Central and the late-night bus network provide better onward transport than leaving a car in the CBD overnight.

### What Made Hudson Ballroom Special

Hudson’s importance came less from its short life under that name than from the continuity it gave a much-loved basement. It preserved a space where emerging acts could play close to audiences, independent promoters could develop recurring nights and DJs could move between niche genres without the expectations of a large commercial nightclub. One parliamentary inquiry recorded how Goodgod had served as Client Liaison’s first Sydney venue and an entry point into interstate touring.

Visitors remembered the complex as intimate, inclusive, noisy, sweaty and deliberately unpolished. Its corners, booths and lack of reliable phone reception encouraged people to remain in the room rather than treating it as a backdrop. It was voted a people’s-choice nightlife venue in 2017, while artists and patrons repeatedly described the wider Goodgod–Plan B–Hudson lineage as a community and cultural hub.

Its closure also demonstrated the vulnerability of small live-music spaces in central Sydney. The city’s cultural-infrastructure research specifically listed Hudson among the venues lost to redevelopment. No audited figure measures its direct economic contribution, but its cultural effect is visible in the artists, promoters, food operators, designers and club communities that developed within a 300-person basement.

### Frequently Asked Questions

#### Is Hudson Ballroom in Sydney still open?

No. Hudson Ballroom closed after its final event on 28 April 2018 and did not reopen. The closure was initially presented as temporary renovation work, but the venue’s lease was subsequently terminated as the heritage building moved towards hotel redevelopment. It has no current opening hours, box office, bar service or public programme.

#### Does Hudson Ballroom have any events in 2026?

No Hudson Ballroom events were announced for 2026, and the venue had already been closed for approximately eight years. The building’s active 2026 project is an adaptive-reuse hotel development, not a new concert season. Archived venue pages may still appear in searches, but they do not represent a functioning business or an upcoming-events calendar.

#### Where exactly was Hudson Ballroom?

The club occupied the basement of 53–55 Liverpool Street, Sydney NSW 2000, near World Square and the former Spanish Quarter. The heritage building also fronts Douglass Street and Douglass Lane. The address remains identifiable, but there is no operating Hudson Ballroom entrance or visitor facility at the site.

#### Was Hudson Ballroom the same venue as Goodgod Small Club?

Yes, it used essentially the same basement. Goodgod Small Club ran there until December 2015, followed immediately by Plan B Small Club. Plan B was renamed Hudson Ballroom in October 2016. The operators changed, but the familiar front bar, kitchen area and rear Danceteria remained substantially intact through the transition.

#### Why did Hudson Ballroom close?

Management originally said it was closing for extensive building and venue renovations that had been delayed by heritage restrictions. The broader redevelopment ultimately ended the music venue’s tenancy, and the basement did not return. Later cultural-infrastructure reporting directly connected the closure with plans to adapt the heritage warehouse into a boutique hotel.

#### What was Hudson Ballroom’s capacity?

The commonly published capacity for the rear Danceteria was about 300 people. That figure refers to the compact live-music and dance room rather than a seated ballroom arrangement. A verified whole-premises occupancy figure has not been located, so larger numbers associated with similarly named hotel ballrooms elsewhere should not be applied to the Sydney venue.

#### Did Hudson Ballroom have allocated seating?

No. Concerts and club nights were primarily general admission and standing. The front bar offered concrete booths and moveable tables, while the rear room centred on its dance floor and low stage. There were no permanent numbered seats, theatre rows, balcony sections or documented VIP boxes. Seating availability depended on the room and time of night.

#### What kind of music did Hudson Ballroom book?

Programming moved freely between indie rock, electronic music, hip-hop, R&B, grime, reggae, dancehall, house, disco and nostalgic pop. It hosted touring live acts alongside promoter-led club nights and themed parties. This breadth, rather than allegiance to one genre, was central to the identity inherited from Goodgod.

#### Which notable artists played Hudson Ballroom?

Documented Hudson-era performers include SOPHIE, Masego, Genesis Owusu, Fakear, Anna of the North, Fazerdaze, Ruby Fields, Alex Lahey, Middle Kids, Mallrat and Alice Ivy. Diplo appeared at an intimate afterparty in 2017. Earlier incarnations of the basement hosted acts including Yeah Yeah Yeahs, De La Soul, A-Trak and Cloud Control.

#### How much did Hudson Ballroom tickets cost?

Historical prices varied widely. Free-entry celebrations and inexpensive club nights were common, while themed parties generally cost around $10–$17. Larger special events and New Year’s Eve parties reached approximately $23–$28. These figures describe 2016–2018 pricing only and should not be treated as current ticket information.

#### Can I buy tickets at the Hudson Ballroom door?

No, because the venue has no operating door or box office. Historically, some nights offered door sales, often at a higher price than advance admission, while others were free. Anyone now offered a ticket specifically claiming to be for Hudson Ballroom at 53–55 Liverpool Street should verify the event’s real location before paying.

#### Which station is closest to the former Hudson Ballroom?

Town Hall Station is the closest major railway station, approximately 360 metres from the former venue. The walk runs south towards Liverpool Street and normally takes about five minutes. Chinatown and Capitol Square light-rail stops, Museum Station and CBD bus services also serve the wider World Square and Haymarket precinct.

#### Is there parking at Hudson Ballroom?

The venue never had a dedicated public car park. World Square provides nearby underground parking, with access from Goulburn or Pitt Street. Research-time evening and weekend prices were generally around $18–$22, depending on pre-booking and entry conditions, while weekday daytime parking could cost substantially more. Always check displayed rates before entering.

#### Was Hudson Ballroom wheelchair accessible?

The historical club was located in a basement reached by stairs, and no dependable evidence confirms a public lift, continuous step-free route, accessible viewing area or accessible toilet in the Hudson-era fit-out. It should not be described as wheelchair accessible without documentation. As the venue is closed, there is no current accessibility contact or event-assistance service.

#### Did Hudson Ballroom serve food?

Yes. Belly Bao operated inside during the Plan B and Hudson years, serving steamed buns with fillings such as pork belly, chicken, tofu, beef and soft-shell crab. Food was normally available in the early evening before the main late-night club activity. That kitchen arrangement ended with the venue and is not a current dining option at the address.

#### Was there a dress code?

Ordinary nights were casual and centred on comfortable clothes suitable for dancing. Certain pop-culture parties encouraged costumes, sports uniforms or outfits matching a theme, sometimes with a bar-tab prize for the best dressed. There was no evidence of a permanent formal dress code, although standard licensed-venue entry and footwear requirements would have applied.

#### What is happening to the Hudson Ballroom building?

The heritage-listed warehouse is being prepared for adaptive reuse as a hotel. A revised development history has included hotel rooms, hospitality areas and restoration work, while a 2026 tender milestone anticipated construction beginning later in the year. The current project is intended to retain important sandstone, brick and timber warehouse fabric, but it does not announce Hudson Ballroom’s return.

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