The Red House faces closure threat from Canterbury-Bankstown Council

The Red House, a private art and music space located in a former Korean Christian church in Earlwood, Sydney, is facing potential closure following a dispute with the Canterbury-Bankstown Council.

Owners Nick Shimmin and Matthew McGuigan purchased the property in 2021 and invested over $1 million in renovations and soundproofing to host intimate, free, and invitation-only musical performances and community events. The dispute began in January following a neighbor's complaint regarding noise and parking. Council officers subsequently classified the residence as an ‘entertainment facility,’ which the owners argue cannot operate under their current residential development application.

Shimmin and McGuigan reject the council's categorization, maintaining that the gatherings are essentially ‘house parties’ that occur approximately 15 times a year, conclude by 9:30 pm, and involve no ticket sales, with voluntary donations going directly to artists.