By LIAM DURKIN
REVELLERS across the region will be greeted with a vastly different nightclub the next time they walk into a prominent location on Kay St, Traralgon.
Inferno Nightclub is currently undergoing a mass overhaul, which will see the entire interior transformed from its previous look as a disco dance club into something more modern.
The light-up dance floor and array of small disco balls synonymous with the venue are gone, and are set to be replaced by aspects that will bring the club into the 21st century.
‘New Inferno’ will include LED lighting on the roof, a revamped main bar and beer garden complemented by a thorough paint job.
Knowing the Valley’s love for a party, organisers are aiming to have the new club ready by early March.
Kay Street Entertainment (which encompasses Inferno and adjoining nightclub/bar Aviary)
manager Simon ‘Simo’ Ierardi is seeing that the clubs vision comes to life, undertaking the
redevelopment himself along with a host of other dedicated staff including owner David Cush.
While the nightclub, still most frequently just referred to by its previous name ‘Saloon’ by most locals, has become something of an institution in Traralgon, Mr Ierardi said the time had well and truly come to change things up.
“The place has needed an upgrade … it probably hasn’t changed since it was built, we thought it was time to fix it,” he said.
“We’re getting rid of the old 80s disco look and just going for a clean, modern, fresh nightclub look … modern really is what we are going for.
“The layout itself is staying the same, there will be a few extra raised areas, couple of platforms, but the base of where everything is will stay the same.
“There has been a range of a few different clubs that we’ve looked at, we’ve taken a colour scheme from here, lightning from there … but I can’t give too much away.”
The layout sees a large main room in the Inferno section of the club, featuring a high ceiling and long bar to the right hand side of the raised stage, with doors exiting to either the beer garden or neighbouring Aviary Bar, which is more of a country pub setting – in keeping with the ‘Saloon’ moniker.
Those who frequented the venue in previous years will attest to its standing as the ‘main’ nightclub in not only the Latrobe Valley but Gippsland, with people often commuting by late night train from Warragul and even Sale just to go out.
Easter Thursday was generally regarded as the biggest night of the year not that long ago, often seeing close to 1000 people come through the doors. Large numbers have also congregated for no shortage of after parties, local sporting team premiership celebrations or other major events.
Some big names have performed on the stage at Inferno such as Flo Rida, Grinspoon and the Hilltop Hoods, while some other names have performed less polished but just as memorable deeds off the stage.
Mr Ierardi was hopeful the upgrades would see the venue prosper into the future.
“During COVID it has been tough to keep up the numbers (of patrons), we’re hoping this upgrade will help that return to what it was back in the day,” he said.
“We’re hoping to bring a lot more live music as well as DJs, so we’re hoping to bring a lot of the big Australian names in hip hop, rock, heavy metal, as well as all the DJs around the country.”
With opening day on the horizon, there could just be one question on people’s minds: Will there be a new Old Man Saloon?
