Melbourne’s floating nightclub ATET Club was hit by a fire in the early hours of Tuesday, January 30th, 2023. According to reports, the fire broke out just after 4:30am, with the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade managing to put the fire under control in just six minutes. No casualties were reported, and the venue has confirmed that all its staff is safe.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the police have deemed it suspicious. In a statement, the police said that they are investigating the matter and are yet to determine the cause of the fire. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the venue took to Instagram to thank the emergency services and extend gratitude to the person who called in the fire.
The ATET Club has been a subject of controversy since its opening last year, with residents and the council receiving numerous complaints about the loud music and anti-social behaviour associated with the venue. The co-chair of Docklands Representative Group, Janette Corcoran, spoke to The Age about the controversy surrounding the venue and stated that there has been a lot of pushback about the type of businesses deemed suitable for the area.
However, the venue is confident that it has not breached any planning permit and has stated that it is reviewing all its practices. In an earlier report by 9News, the venue’s spokesperson Jake Hughes had said that it is their priority to review everything they are doing and that the Docklands area has been quieter than it is designed to be.
The ATET Club has promised to regroup and return soon despite the setback, and the community has shown empathy towards the new business owners. The venue’s Instagram statement read, “We have to extend our deepest gratitude to the person who called in the fire, and we are forever indebted to the amazing and swift response from the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade who did a sterling job in containing the fire and saving our venue. Rest assured we’re not done and we’ll be back soon!”