A liquidator has been appointed to the company behind an entertainment precinct, weeks after it ceased trading following its sudden closure announcement late last year.
A spokesperson for The Asset Restructuring Group confirmed to Sunshine Coast News that Alan Walker was appointed liquidator of The Station on February 4 by order of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
The appointment followed an application filed by majority creditor Flexihire Pty Ltd, which is “owed approximately $70,000”.
The spokesperson said investigations were still in their early stages and detailed findings were not yet available, but confirmed the company had stopped operating before the liquidator’s appointment, in or around January this year.
The liquidator’s initial notice to creditors is expected to be issued on or before March 4.
When contacted by Sunshine Coast News, the venue’s owners Chris and Lauren Hignett said updates could not yet be provided as the “liquidation process takes time and the liquidator was only appointed earlier this month”.
Ms Hignett added her thoughts were with another Sunshine Coast venue which announced it would shut its doors this week.
“Our hearts are with the Solbar team right now following their closure announcement,” she said.
“It’s a devastating blow for live music on the Sunshine Coast.”
On December 30, the Hignetts announced they had made the “really sad” decision to shut the Birtinya-based venue, revealing the business had suffered losses approaching $1 million. The precinct officially closed on January 3, with a final headline performance by Australian singer-songwriter Pete Murray on January 2.
The Station opened in March 2024 as a revitalised entertainment hub on a 6400-square-metre site, featuring a live music venue, skatepark, retail outlets, food trucks and bar areas. The Hignetts had secured a five-year lease in late 2023 and invested in upgrades to bring the previously dormant site back to life.
The precinct occupied the former home of NightQuarter, a family-friendly night market and entertainment venue that relocated from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast in 2020 before closing in 2022 amid financial challenges. The company behind that venture, Food Focus Australia Pty Ltd, later entered liquidation, along with the neighbouring Malt Shovel Taphouse.
Before launching The Station, the Hignetts were also known locally for operating Alley-Oops Skatepark Birtinya, which has since closed.
When announcing the closure of The Station, Mr Hignett cited broader challenges within the live music sector, including difficulties securing consistent touring acts capable of filling a mid-sized venue.
“There is simply a lack of domestic touring talent at the size needed to fill our room on regular consistency, and the appetite for many internationals is just not there for anything outside of Sydney and Melbourne,” he said at the time.
Despite the financial pressures, the operators said the venue had attracted close to 80,000 patrons during its short lifespan.
The liquidation process will now determine the company’s financial position, including assets and liabilities, and whether any returns will be available to creditors.
Creditors seeking further information have been invited to contact the liquidator directly while investigations continue.
