Swagman Restaurant
Encyclopedia
The Swagman Restaurant was a restaurant
in Ferntree Gully, Melbourne
, Australia
, which opened in 1972 and burnt down in 1991. The restaurant was famous in Melbourne for its long-running television commercials, cabaret
shows, and smorgasbord
.
The Swagman was located on Burwood Highway
, Ferntree Gully. It was owned by Basil and Ina Dejong. An unusually large establishment, The Swagman eventually had a capacity of 1,200 seats and covered 20,000 square metres, and was noted for attracting buses of tourists from rural and international locations, especially Japan
.
), David Gould, Debbie Reynolds
, Robert Goulet
, the Mills Brothers
, Dr. Hook
, Pilita Corrales
, and the Village People
.
alleged arson and refused to pay the $7 million claim made by the owners of the restaurant, who then sued for the amount. The case was confidentially settled in October 1992. After the settlement, however, the owners were sued by the ANZ Bank
, who also alleged arson. The restaurant was not rebuilt after the fire.
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
in Ferntree Gully, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, which opened in 1972 and burnt down in 1991. The restaurant was famous in Melbourne for its long-running television commercials, cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
shows, and smorgasbord
Smörgåsbord
Smörgåsbord is a type of Scandinavian meal served buffet-style with multiple dishes of various foods on a table, originating in Sweden. In Norway it is called koldtbord, in Denmark it is called det kolde bord, in Finland seisova pöytä and in Estonia rootsi laud...
.
The Swagman was located on Burwood Highway
Burwood Highway
Burwood Highway is a major transportation link with Melbourne's eastern suburbs. It begins in the suburb of Kooyong, Melbourne at the junction of the Monash Freeway as Toorak Road between Monash Freeway and Warrigal Road, and finishes in Belgrave, Victoria in the Dandenong Ranges...
, Ferntree Gully. It was owned by Basil and Ina Dejong. An unusually large establishment, The Swagman eventually had a capacity of 1,200 seats and covered 20,000 square metres, and was noted for attracting buses of tourists from rural and international locations, especially Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Entertainment
The floor shows, featuring dancers, singers, and other acts, were quite unique in Melbourne at that time. The shows changed every three months. Choreographers included Coral Deague, Jan Rogers, and Jodie Greenwood. Greenwood was a dancer and performer at the Swagman for 14 years, and was the choreographer from 1979 until 1991, when the restaurant burnt down. She featured in all the television commercials for the restaurant, which played on late-night commercial television for many years. Performers who played at the venue included Frank Amorosi (father of Vanessa AmorosiVanessa Amorosi
Vanessa Amorosi is an Australian singer-songwriter and recording artist. Her combined album and single sales have reached over 2 million worldwide.-Early life:...
), David Gould, Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds is an American actress, singer, and dancer.She was initially signed at age 16 by Warner Bros., but her career got off to a slow start. When her contract was not renewed, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave her a small, but significant part in the film Three Little Words , then signed her to...
, Robert Goulet
Robert Goulet
Robert Gerard Goulet was a Canadian American entertainer as a singer and actor. He played the role of Lancelot in the Broadway musical Camelot of 1960.-Early life:...
, the Mills Brothers
Mills Brothers
The Mills Brothers, sometimes billed as The Four Mills Brothers, were an American jazz and pop vocal quartet of the 20th century who made more than 2,000 recordings that combined sold more than 50 million copies, and garnered at least three dozen gold records...
, Dr. Hook
Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show was an American pop, country and soft rock band, formed around Union City, New Jersey in 1967 as The Chocolate Papers. They enjoyed considerable commercial success in the 1970s with hit singles including "Sylvia's Mother", "The Cover of the Rolling Stone", "A Little Bit...
, Pilita Corrales
Pilita Corrales
Pilita Garrido Corrales is a Popular Filipina singer. She is tagged "Asia's Queen of Songs."-Biography:Pilita Garrido Corrales was born in Lahug, Cebu to a Spanish mother Maria Garrido and a half Filipino half Spanish father Jose Corrales...
, and the Village People
Village People
Village People is a concept disco group that formed in the United States in 1977, well known for their on-stage costumes depicting American cultural stereotypes, as well as their catchy tunes and suggestive lyrics....
.
Fire
The Swagman burnt down at 4:30 a.m. on May 27, 1991. The fire was front page news in Melbourne. The insurance firm Royal InsuranceRoyal & SunAlliance
RSA Insurance Group plc , commonly known as RSA, is a global general insurance company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has over 20 million customers in 36 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and South America....
alleged arson and refused to pay the $7 million claim made by the owners of the restaurant, who then sued for the amount. The case was confidentially settled in October 1992. After the settlement, however, the owners were sued by the ANZ Bank
ANZ Bank
The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited , commonly called ANZ, is the fourth largest bank in Australia, after the Commonwealth Bank, Westpac Banking Corporation and the National Australia Bank. Australian operations make up the largest part of ANZ's business, with commercial and retail...
, who also alleged arson. The restaurant was not rebuilt after the fire.
External links
- Photo of the Swagman after the fire, 1992, State Library of VictoriaState Library of VictoriaThe State Library of Victoria is the central library of the state of Victoria, Australia, located in Melbourne. It is on the block bounded by Swanston, La Trobe, Russell, and Little Lonsdale streets, in the northern centre of the central business district...
. - Video of Swagman TV commercial from YouTube.