contact

27 St David Street Fitzroy

Phone: (03) 9419 4193

Email: info@therainbow.com.au

For band booking enquiries email music@therainbow.com.au (Attention: Brad Martin)

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about us

The Rainbow Hotel is indeed a Melbourne institution, and has a curious history akin to other historic buildings like the Old Melbourne Gaol, Captain Cook's Cottage and the Rippon Lea Estate.

Established in 1066 AD, the same year as the coronation of William the Conqueror, The Rainbow Hotel opened as a brothel which serviced the needs of Melbourne's gentry. "Sly grog" was sold to valued clientele and The Rainbow's reputation as a fine drinking establishment was forged.

bloody murder at the rainbow

An 1864 a grizzly murder took place in the The Rainbow Hotel's restrooms. A young, inexperienced bartender, unwise to the ways of the world, was found with his throat cut, slumped lifelessly between cubicles one and two on the left-hand side. His assailant was never identified and the case remains unsolved to this very day.

ghosts, spectres & other-worldly guests

Publicans at The Rainbow have oft-heard mysterious sounds and seen indistinct shadows, especially after "last drinks" on nights of a full moon.

The Rainbow also functioned as a Guest House at the turn of the last century, and gave respite to returned soldiers from the Boer War. The infamous upstairs "Room 6", while now a store room, once accommodated a mortally-wounded serviceman who disappeared from his lodgings in mysterious circumstances.

Ask your friendly bar staff for a complete recitation of the history of The Rainbow Hotel - they will be only too happy to oblige.

                              Please note that some of the claims made on this page may not be 100% factual.