Northcote Uniting Church Venue Hire
Structural Damage to the Church
As of May 2023 the church is out of use because of the structural damage. You can read about it here.
Expression of Interest
Submit this EOI to get your booking underway. The Northcote Uniting Church office is staffed part-time (Tuesday-Thursday), so sending this EOI in is the fastest way to get your booking enquiry on-track.
Remember, your booking isn't considered confirmed until a confirmation email has been sent.
The Hall
The capacity of the hall is 250–300 people. There are approximately 100 chairs and 5 couches in the hall. In the equipment room you’ll find: 4 circular trestle tables and 14 large rectangular tables, along with a PA system, 3 roving microphones, sound board, lamps, Persian rugs and candelabras. There are 12 staging units (2m x 1m) in the equipment room which have a variety of legs and can be used as additional tables and/or a stage. Each group is responsible for set up and pack down, we hope you will leave the space better than when you arrived.. The hall is 19m long by 12m wide with a kitchen including: kettle, mugs, sandwich press, refrigerator/freezer, stove and 90cm commercial oven, microwave, sink, dishwasher, crockery, cutlery, and urns. Limited rear access is available from Eastment Street. *The oven is 45° cooler than you would expect.
The Hall floor is scheduled for repair once we have raised enough to cover the work needed to re-build a dance-level floor. Help us to raise these funds! Therefore, at present we are only able to accommodate movement-based floor activities which do not undertake sliding or close floor work(e.g. barefoot dance, physical theatre). If you think you would like to use the Hall floor for such an event, please speak with the office about coming in and checking out the floor before making any bookings. All bookings prior to the floor repair are taken on the understanding that the hirer will take all steps to prevent injury to their participants and note that they are liable if something unfortunate did occur.
The Courtyard
The courtyard area includes a stage (without cover), limited outdoor seating and access to power. The courtyard can be booked either in conjunction with your event or for separate activities depending upon both the normal operating hours of the courtyard restaurant, and other church or hall bookings. Prices available on application.
The Forecourt
This is the stage area out the front of the church. It can be used for low-volume acoustic performances or presentations. Due consideration must be made for High Street traders, and no activity should restrict their regular trade. Any hirers planning events with loud instruments will need to liaise with surrounding businesses to ensure that they are aware of your event, and will not be negatively impacted.
Eastment Studios – “The Nest”
Eastment Studios are a creative hub for writers and artists who need time and space away from home to devote to their creative practices. Many of our artists work at Chalice two to three days a week. For hire costs and availability please contact the office.
Hire Scale of Fees – Hall and Church
From July 2023
Callout fee (e.g. if locked out, emergency services, heaters left on) $10
Lost key $100
Public Liability Insurance (PLI) for uninsured hirers (payable to the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, price subject to change) $55
Click here to download the form or email them here: insurance@victas.uca.org.au
Performances, Events, Fundraisers Commercial Community groups and non-profit organisations
Monday-Friday 5pm, hourly rate (min 4 hrs) $95 $60
Friday 5pm-Sunday, hourly rate (min 4 hrs) $130 $75
Workshops, Classes, Rehearsals, Meetings Commercial Community groups and non-profit organisations
Monday-Friday 5pm, hourly rate (min 4 hrs) $65 $40
Friday 5pm-Sunday, hourly rate (min 4 hrs) $85 $50
Northcote Uniting Church Partners (hourly rate, no minimum) Commercial Community groups and non-profit organisations
Monday-Friday 5pm $40 $35
Friday 5pm-Sunday $45 $40
Notes: The weekend starts at 5.00pm on Friday. The bookings manager will determine which rate you fall under.
These rates are for Church and Hall hire. For other rates such as stage and courtyard, contact admin@nuc.org.au
Here at Northcote Uniting Church (NUC) we have event spaces which are ‘a bit different’. Our buildings are full of character and energy and provide excellent backdrops for your events. The monies raised by hiring our venues go towards maintenance of these historic spaces.
It is a legal requirement of renting our spaces meet our COVID rules. Please see this page for current information.
While we are not a community centre as such, NUC is a shared community space, with many groups, individuals and other colourful characters here on a regular basis.
Every performer, creator and audience member who uses our space assists in some way to maintain and preserve what we have here at Northcote Uniting Church.
We have several rooms we can rent out on a weekly or monthly basis, subject to availability. Our Eastment Studios provide spaces for local creatives to write, sew, craft and create on a regular basis.
NUC supports local creativity, providing space for rehearsals, gigs, workshops and other events. Our scale of fees represents our desire to support local emerging talent in all areas of creativity.
NUC supports local social justice works, and is available for fundraising events.
We have partnerships with a number of choirs and creative folk who use our spaces. If you are interested in developing a partnership with NUC, please get in touch, at admin@nuc.org.au
Our hire fees and charges (see below) are designed to foster the creative life of High Street Northcote and surrounds, as well as maintain our historic buildings.
When you have a successful event, should you feel that you are able to contribute more than the invoiced amount, we would welcome any donations. All donations are put to use maintaining these iconic and beloved spaces.
Some Boring but Important things for Hirers to know:
Confirmation of Booking
While every effort is made to accommodate a wide variety of events at NUC, confirmed bookings can’t be made until all aspects of planning have been covered.
Payment Options
You will be sent an invoice around a week after your event, or quarterly if you hire the space more regularly.
To make a bank transfer for space hire please use this account: Northcote Uniting Church BSB 033-067 Acc No 13-5410
Donations Welcome
Our hire fees and charges are designed to foster the creative life of High Street Northcote and surrounds. Should you feel that you are able to contribute more than the invoiced amount, we welcome any donations. All donations are put to use maintaining these historic spaces.
Cancellations
Cancellation of bookings for events need a minimum of 48 hours’ notice and a confirmation from a staff member. Otherwise cancellations made outside this time or without a confirmation will be charged 50% of the hire fee.
Staying in Touch with Northcote Uniting Church
Our office is not staffed all day, every day, so email is our most effective way of keeping track of a booking process. Save yourself a headache by booking in a meeting with staff for key pickup/walk-through and induction well in advance of your event.
Storage
Our spaces are at a premium, so please do not expect to be able to store your materials for your workshops on site between events. Please discuss this posiibility with the office if needed.
Cleaning
Northcote Uniting Church staff will most likely not be on site when you hold your event. You will need to collect (and return) a key, and manage your own set up and clean up for your event. Rubbish must be removed from site, the spaces swept and all furniture returned to its storage spaces. Anything more than a small bag of rubbish should be taken away by you. If Northcote Uniting Church needs to clean after your event this will attract a premium of $55 per hour of cleaning added to your invoice.
Lockup and access times
You are asked to arrive and depart within the times agreed in the hire arrangement. It is unlikely that there will be NUC staff on site when you use the buildings. Please ensure that all doors are locked when you leave, including the toilets. Unless the restaurant is visibly open, please lock the Eastment Street and High Street gates as well. The key MUST be returned to the office within a week.
Care of Northcote Uniting Church Spaces
Every hirer must read and sign the Conditions of Hire form when collecting their key at their induction tour. If you are the key holder it is your responsibility to communicate clearly to all members of your group the conditions of hire for using the space, including noise, cleaning, furniture placement, waste removal and reporting of damage.
There is no smoking inside or outside at any NUC space.
Parties
We take bookings for some Birthday parties and other events, please contact the office for further details. Wedding services and wedding receptions are only possible if the wedding is solemnised by the our minister at NUC.
Legal Nitty Gritty
It is the responsibility of hirers to ensure legal requirements are met and any necessary permits are sought for the provision of food or alcohol, including RSA and compliance with APRA requirements.
Insurance
You must hold public liability insurance, and provide the office with a copy of your Certificate of Currency (by email is fine) a minimum of 1 week prior to your event.
The Uniting Church can arrange Public Liability Insurance (PLI) - click here for the form
Electrical Equipment
All electrical equipment must be tested and tagged prior to use at NUC. There is AV equipment that can be hired with prior arrangement. Hirers are liable for any damage that occurs due to faulty equipment.
Security
Please be mindful that the NUC spaces are often open to the public and you will need to take steps to protect your valuables. Please ensure that fundraising cash and other easily portable items are taken care of at all times so you have a successful event. NUC bears no liability for lost or stolen items.
Parking
There is no on-site parking available. There is a parking lot on Mitchell St, and another (larger) one behind the Northcote Social Club and, even more, a little further away, at Northcote Plaza. Free street parking on High St is also available. Remind your patrons that the 86 tram, Northcote train station and the 567 bus are all within a short walk.
Fair Music
All musicians performing at NUC need to register their event with APRA. If you are performing songs which are not your own work, or using music in your performance, you are required to register with www.apraamcos.com.au. APRA Live Performance Returns are due to APRA before July 31 each year.
Maintenance
Any breakage, damage or issue with the space and facilities must be communicated immediately to the Office. Breakages need to be paid for by the hirer.
If you have questions or need further information before submitting an expression of interest, please email admin@nuc.org.au
Northcote Uniting Church - CONDITIONS OF HIRE
When you hire Chalice spaces, you need to sign a copy of these conditions before we hand over your key (don't worry, we have them in the office)
1. All hirers must read the Hire Information document provided upon confirmation of your booking and use the Maintenance Checklist to ensure the space is cared for. All hirers must leave the space as stated on the checklist.
2. It is the responsibility of all hirers to communicate clearly to all members of their group the conditions of hire for using the space, including noise and alcohol restrictions, cleaning, furniture placement, waste removal and reporting of damages.
3. Smoking is not permitted inside any NUC space.
4. It is the responsibility of hirers to ensure legal requirements are met and any necessary permits are sought for the provision of food or alcohol, and compliance with APRA.
5. It is a requirement that all groups have public liability insurance, and provide NUC with a copy of their Certificate of Currency prior to their event.
6. All electrical equipment must be tested and tagged prior to use at NUC. Hirers are liable for any damage that occurs due to faulty equipment.
7. Cancellation of bookings for public events must be communicated with a minimum of 48 hours’ notice to the NUC Office. Cancellations made within 48 hours will be charged 50% of the hire fee, unless there are extreme circumstances.
8. Any breakage, damage or issue with the space and facilities must be communicated immediately to the NUC Office. Help us to care for these special venues.