For the traditional custodians of the land, the Darug People, Rooty Hill has had an important function as a meeting place for Aboriginal people, travelling between Penrith and Parramatta. Today Rooty Hill continues to be a place of gathering, sharing and connection in a most surprising way. As the entertainment heartbeat for Western Sydney, and founded in 1964, West HQ has been celebrating 60 incredible years of entertainment right here in Western Sydney.
We had the good fortune to be able to ask WEST HQ’s CEO – Richard Errington a few questions about his vision, “Western Sydney’s rich cultural heritage makes it the ideal foundation for what West HQ has become today – a leading food, entertainment, fitness and lifestyle hub with a diverse offering to meet the community's needs”.
Famously dubbed the Vegas of the West by the legendary Don Lane, the Sydney Coliseum is today a state of the art, world class venue and continues to attract, deliver, share and showcase the finest performances both large and small. For the uninitiated, this is quite the eye opener. The impressive architecture, smooth, fluid lines and stunning interior would be at home in New York, London or any other major capital city around the globe.
What many don’t realise, is just how formative West HQ has been in shaping Australia entertainment landscape. In October 1976 with the opening of the Tivoli Showroom. Richard adds “In addition to legendary performers such as The Bee Gees and The Supremes back in the 70s, this venue was also the birthplace of Barry Humphrey’s Sir Les Patterson.”
This state-of-the-art auditorium quickly became a sought-after venue for performers, hosting a stellar lineup that included international stars such as Cilla Black, a young Daryl Braithwaite, The Bee Gees (can you believe it!), The Supremes (in love), and Freddie and the Dreamers. The venue offered cutting-edge technical capabilities and exceptional viewing areas, ensuring an unforgettable experience. It was and is a destination for entertainers.
Today, West HQ and the Sydney Coliseum continues to uphold its legacy of hosting the very best in entertainment and is the current stage for some of Australia’s biggest musical acts. Artists like Delta Goodrem, Jimmy Barnes, Marcia Hines, the Hoodoo Gurus, and international acts and guest like Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver, Comedian Bill Baily and Music with Burt Bacharach. The list goes on and on.
Here’s the thing. Whenever people talk of going to the theatre or seeing a show, most of us think of making a trip into the City of Sydney from far and wide away. The perception is often that out of the city and in the west, you somehow miss out. The team at The WEST Journal cannot overstate how incredible the offerings are. We have visited numerous times for the incredible dining, to see shows and sometimes just to drop into the eat street and grab a quick coffee and a gelato. Most don’t realise that just around the corner you can, and should, instead head west and discover what incredible variety and diversity is on offer at West HQ.
Richard has a clear commitment and vision for Western Sydney, “Sydney's CBD has long been the epicentre of economic activity and as such has attracted much of the attention and funding from governments. This has been to the detriment of Western Sydney.
Swan Lake. On Ice. Can you believe it! Right here in Western Sydney. When you realise that international acts and full sized symphony orchestras, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, come to WEST HQ to perform, you start to realise how big a deal this. The Sydney Coliseum was purpose built to host and hold a variety of performances and, not to get too technical, the facilities and setup allow international acts that can only otherwise perform at venues such as the Opera House.
The celebration of West HQ’s 60-Year Jubilee is more than just a milestone—it is a testament to the venue’s enduring presence and its role as a pioneer in the entertainment and hospitality industry. The hall of fame of performers, musicians and artists that have passed through these doors is breathtaking.
Richards final comments really shine a light on the future of Westen Sydney as a whole, “The future of Western Sydney is incredibly promising, especially with the new airport on the horizon. We anticipate this will significantly boost foot traffic across Greater Sydney and further grow business prosperity and more broadly the local economy.
We see West HQ and the Coliseum as playing an important part in ensuring that the tourists coming through the airport are given a big welcome by catering to their very needs from quality accommodation, quality culinary experiences and world-class entertainment.
We’re particularly excited to welcome athletes to our Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatic Centre in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. The new airport will make it easier than ever for global talent and visitors to experience all that West HQ has to offer.” Western Sydney just keeps getting better and better and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
Over the past six decades, West HQ has continually adapted and evolved, staying ahead of trends and setting new standards for what an entertainment venue can be. In the heart of Western Sydney, this is a gem, one you must visit and come along to help celebrate 60 years. At WEST we love it and honestly where would we be without it.
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