The owner of the Pink Rabbit Adult Boutique says he will appeal after the City of Perth rejected the application for a new members-only sex on premises venue for the LGBTQIA+ community in the CBD.
Perth City Council refused the development application at its meeting earlier this week, despite planning officers recommending its approval.
The Pink Rabbit Club applied to council for permission to convert its second storey into a safe and welcoming play space for the LGBTQIA+ community to enjoy consensual interactions.
According to the planning documents, the open-plan adults-only venue would be alcohol and drug-free with a maximum capacity of 50.
Members would access the venue via Pink Rabbit or through an entrance in the laneway behind the business.
Club director Nick Needham told the ABC that he would take the matter to the State Administrative Tribunal to review the council’s decision.
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‘I’m trying to create a safe space for the queer community’
During the consultation process, the application drew 341 submissions, 290 being objections and 51 in support.
PerthNow confirmed with City officers that 195 objections were lodged without any justification, 43 were submitted using similar pro-forma wording, and 279 of the 290 objections were from owners, occupiers or organisations outside of the City of Perth.
Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds said he was unable to support something “likely to have an adverse impact on the amenity of the adjoining properties and the locality” and “incompatible with its setting”.
While Cr Lezer said while there were places for inclusive, safe spaces in the city, this location was not one of them.
“The submissions and ratepayers tell me a venue for adult activity does not belong here,” she told PerthNow.
“This proposal is a fundamental land use mismatch. I urge the owner to perhaps consider Northbridge, an entertainment precinct suited for this type of venue.
“This is simply the wrong use in the wrong place. This isn’t about who a venue serves; it’s about basic planning logic.”
Needham told ABC that his customers are “just as disappointed as I am.”
“From what I’ve seen, they all run in a very responsible manner … it’s just there are limited options here in Perth, especially for the queer community.”
“They’re in every city and every country around the world,” he added, “They’re not some foreign thing … they exist without problems; they function as a positive in most communities.”
“I’m trying to create a safe space for the queer community. It shouldn’t be controversial; I wish everyone could just look past the sex on premises aspect of it.”
“It’s not just about that,” Needham said, “It’s about a social connection… more than just sex.”
Private, discreet, inclusive and accessible
According to the plans, the venue would have four private cubicles, a private sex swing room, 14 couches and five pieces of sex position furniture across two large open plan areas.
Access would have been “strictly limited to verified members through a controlled membership model. This approach establishes clear operational safeguards and minimises the risk of any potential breaches of relevant laws relating to activities occurring in public or publicly accessible places.”
“We will enforce clear guidelines, provide on-site education around safer sex practices, consent, and emotional well-being, and partner with relevant organisations to offer resources such as sexual health information and support,” Pink Rabbit Club said in a statement.
The club’s owners said in the proposal they believed the venue would contribute to the “inclusivity and social cohesion” of the Perth city centre while “reinforcing the City’s role as a hub for cultural expression.”
“The proposal will attract visitors, particularly during Pride and community events, contributing to a vibrant and active city centre,” the planning documents stated.
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