UNSW Roundhouse

UNSW Roundhouse is a 2,200-capacity concert and events venue on UNSW’s Kensington campus in Sydney. The distinction is built into its name: constructed in 1961, it was Sydney’s first circular building, conceived as a student-recreation hub. That geometry gives a show here a markedly different frame from a conventional rectangular hall, while the venue’s full-scale gig capacity places touring acts and campus crowds in the same room.

A 1961 circle gets a second opening

The Roundhouse began in 1961 as one of UNSW Sydney’s earliest buildings. The NSW Government Architect’s office worked with project architect Joseph W. van der Steen and Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo, Briggs Architects on a purpose-built home for student recreation, with the circular form making a strong architectural statement on campus. Concerts shared its calendar with formal dinners, comedy, theatre sports and dance parties. Its music history includes bills by Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Ratcat, Fatboy Slim, Foo Fighters, The Living End and Nick Cave.

A major refurbishment closed the building in April 2017. The work upgraded building services, lighting and interiors while retaining key heritage elements; UNSW records the project’s completion in 2017. Roundhouse reopened for campus activity on 19 February 2018, then marked its official public relaunch on 15 March with a sold-out San Cisco performance, following a VIP reception. The reopening gave the original circular room a renewed technical and hospitality setup without abandoning its student-union roots.

The room in practice

Roundhouse books full-scale gigs alongside conferences, parties and student events, so its concert programme ranges across electronic, pop, rock, metal, alternative, indie, jazz and Latin bills. The 975-square-metre Main Room uses a modular stage and advanced AV rig; upstairs breakout spaces ring the room on a balcony overlooking the floor. For pre-show and interval breathing room, Unibar opens onto a 500-person beer garden, while Club Bar sits upstairs beside the breakout rooms. Expect a large, adaptable standing-room environment instead of a fixed-seat theatre.