- Galatos, a historic music venue in Auckland, is up for sale as owners retire.
- Andrea Clark and Dean Whaitiri saved it in 2012, hosting acts like Lorde and Alien Weaponry.
- The venue’s proximity to the new Karanga-a-Hape Station offers potential for various future uses.
The legendary Kiwi music venue that hosted Lorde’s first live gig is up for grabs.
Start your property search
Galatos, just off Karangahape Road, in the city centre, first started life in 1908 as a United Ancient Order of Druids lodge but found its groove in the 1990s as a live music venue under the direction of entertainment guru John Minty.
Minty, who later found fame as director of Splore festival, championed new acts and new sounds at Galatos. Many of the upcoming bands and names that played there went on to bigger and better things, including Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Diplo and Stereophonics.
By the early 2010s, Galatos’ future was in doubt, with the property put on the market for sale and earmarked as a development opportunity.
Galatos in full swing at a Ministry of Sound night. Photo / Supplied
The poster for Lorde’s first public concert, months after she sang at an invitation-only concert in the Galatos basement. Photo / Supplied
A ticket to Lorde’s first Auckland concert. The gig sold out in hours. Photo / Supplied
Coldplay at Eden Park in 2024. The band played Galatos before they hit the big time. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Husband and wife Andrea Clark and Dean Whaitiri bought the venue in 2012, saving it from the wrecking ball.
Whaitiri always wanted to own his own venue, Clark told OneRoof, but it wasn’t until they spotted an ad in the New Zealand Herald that they decided to make that dream a reality.
“My husband was a really good saxophone player. He played in most of the Māori show bands in the 1970s, including Howard Morrison [and] the Senators,” she said.
Discover more:
- Million-dollar-plus penthouse in wealthy suburb sells for just $3700 - why?
- Elephant dancer selling the Waiheke home she bought with her circus earnings
- 'A true local legend': Iconic roadside castle up for grabs on Auckland's border
At the time of the sale, Whaitiri told the New Zealand Herald: “My friends all think I am crazy, but I think there is a gap in the market for a place where old-fashioned rock ’n’ roll is played.”
Not long after the couple took over Galatos, they had a very nervous 16-year-old play her first gig in the basement.
“It was invitation only, and they invited a representative from Universal Studios in New York to come and listen to her,” Clark said.
Galatos owner Dean Whaitiri has live music in his blood. Photo / Jason Oxenham
The crowds pack the dance floor. Photo / Supplied
“She was only 16 and was absolutely petrified. She only had about three songs, but one that she did sing was Royals. Then, probably three months later, she did her first show in our main room, and that sold out within minutes.”
Another standout booking was heavy metal band Alien Weaponry. “Overseas, they’re huge,” Clark said. “They play heavy metal festivals in places like Germany and the audience all sing along in te reo and buy the merchandise because they love the designs and the patterns.”
Galatos has also hosted many private parties over the years. Sometimes it’s 60th birthday parties, for people who used to frequent the venue in their younger days. It’s also popular as an anniversary venue for couples who met there, Clark said.
Clark and Whaitiri have listed the venue for sale because they’ve decided it’s time to retire.
“We’re not spring chickens,” Clark said. “We traditionally have a break every summer because it’s the time for outdoor festivals. At the end of last year, we made the decision to retire. The last gig was in December.”
The building could continue to host bands and music fans, but a new buyer may have other plans. Photo / Supplied
The couple hopes that the new owners will continue to run a venue or some other arts-related business, but they accept that buyers might have other intentions.
In the listing, Barfoot & Thompson agent Cam Paterson highlighted the building’s proximity to the City Rail Link: “The property is within a short stroll of Karanga-a-Hape Station, which is forecast to handle up to 40,000 commuters daily.”
Paterson told OneRoof that a variety of potential buyers had made contact. “There are obviously people within the industry who can utilise the property as is with its 4am licence.
“Then there are other people who are looking to re-position the property for future use and take advantage of all the foot traffic that the train station is going to generate.
“Since it’s on three levels, you could make one level a small cafe, leave the middle level as a function venue and put a cocktail bar or something upstairs. Or alternatively, change that into residential use. So, there’s quite a bit of flexibility.”
Paterson told OneRoof that he had attended gigs at the Galatos in his younger days, but he could not remember the names of the bands.
- 17 Galatos Street, Auckland Central, is for sale, deadline closing March 31
