Special Project

Arts Centre Melbourne contacted Port Containers to design and construct a number of container bars for one of their venues, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Their venues host a wide range of events from comedy to opera to rock n roll. The Sidney Myer Music Bowl has recently hosted Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons, Tame Impala, Flight Facilities, Chet Faker and Opera Australia.

Previously, they used marquees and other portable units that took time to setup and pull down for events – they needed something portable but also permanent and secure.

We built six modified containers primarily to be used as retail bars, three units joined together on each side of the venue. Though when all units are not necessary to be utilised as bars they can be re-tasked to become merchandise units, box office, coffee outlet or even baby change rooms! This demonstrates how versatile the setup of the containers are and how they can be utilised in different industries.

Once the container bars where delivered on site Arts Centre Melbourne organised internationally acclaimed artist Sofles to paint them. Sofles used them as a blank canvas to create beautiful murals on the side walls on the containers – check out the video below.

So why use shipping containers as a structure for the outdoor bar? ” They are extremely secure, wind resistant and safer, as well as providing an aesthetically pleasing solution for the venue.” States Martin Pound,  Manager of Sidney Myer Music Bowl Operations. “What we used previously was no where near as efficient. Eighteen metres of modified containers equals thirty metres of marquees! The way they have been modified has allowed us to reduce our footprint of the bars within the venue, though at the same time increase our turnover and reduce our staffing labour!”

Each container bar was fitted with two lockable windows with gas strut operated awnings on one side wall of the container (for restocking the unit during events) and another larger lockable window on the other side wall to serve patrons. A roller door at each end of the container was installed plus a number of fold down benches that attached to the walls inside the bar.

If you would like to find out more about our shipping container bars then give us a call on 1300 957 709 or fill in our quote form to get our current brochure and price guide. We have 10ft, 20ft and 40ft units available and we can build to your requirements, we also deliver Australia wide!