Collection

Papers of Jan Hillier

These scrapbooks were compiled by Jan Hillier (1936-2001), a pioneering Melbourne gay and lesbian bar owner and entrepreneur.

Scrapbook no. 1

Date

1974-1979

This volume documents Hillier’s various bars, in particular Jan’s Bar at Annabel’s Hotel, later at the Prince of Wales Hotel, and Pokey’s, also at the Prince of Wales Hotel. Other bars featured in the scrapbook include: the Keller Bar in Savoy Plaza, Blades at Annabel’s, the production of Cocktails of ’77 at Cyril’s Theatre Restaurant, Union Hotel, Cassidy’s Nitespot, Chevron Hotel, Bernhardt’s and Piggy’s as well as The Organizers’ Queen’s Birthday Picnic. Individuals featured include: Doug Lucas; Elsa Davis; and Geoffrey Cross. Newspaper clippings feature scene articles and advertisements, largely from Campaign magazine.

Scrapbook no. 2

Date

1979

This volume documents Hillier’s ‘Belle-Boys’ revue, and their performances at the Prince of Wales Hotel Showroom (or Charlie’s Showroom) in St Kilda, the Carlton Theatre Restaurant, and the Stamford Hotel in Rowville. Performers featured include: Michael Michaels, Sasha Morell, Gene Denis, Terri Sinclair, Michelle Tozer, Graham Pengilly, Doug Lucas, and Wanda. Other people featured include: Ian (Molly) Meldrum, John Michael-Howson, Gwenda McBean, John and Beryl Butler, and Ross McVeal. Also featured are a series of telegrams wishing Hillier good luck for the opening of ‘Bell-Boys’, an article on Pokey’s, and an article on Julien Tomay and the Les Boys. Newspaper clippings feature scene articles and advertisements, largely from Toorak Times, The Echo and The Sun.