Australia, 1972, the times they were a-changin’ (to loosely paraphrase folk musician Bob Dylan). Gough Whitlam won the federal election, ending 23 years of Liberal–Country Party rule; the Aboriginal Tent Embassy was set up on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra, which continues to be an enduring symbol of protest for Indigenous land rights; and national service conscription was abolished after mounting public protest against the Vietnam War.
At this time, the Sunshine Coast was evolving from an agricultural hinterland and holiday destination towards a growing residential and tourism hub. The Big Pineapple, which opened in 1971, literally was a large chunk of the region’s tourism offer by 1972. It was also the year Maroochy RSL officially opened its doors to the public as a licensed venue (the Maroochy RSL Sub-branch was established earlier in 1932).
Fast-forward 53 years, and the club has opened a freshly minted and rebranded sports bar called Lounge Seventy Two, which pays homage to its 1970s roots with its nostalgic yet contemporary vibe. The expansive yet intimate drinking and dining space is much more than a sports bar now. While there’s a large wall-mounted TV screen on the far side of the lounge, it’s somehow not at all obtrusive.
The sleek fit-out could best be described as contemporary chic-meets-1970s retro. It’s dark, cosy and mood-lit. Everything from the velvety mid-century modern lounge chairs to the cosy diner booths and even thick pile carpet, is “borrowed” from a 1970s interior design colour palette. Think warm earthy tones, which have been reimagined as thoroughly modern-looking.
As a child of the 1970s, who’s now a woman in her 50s, I discovered there was much to delight in these new surroundings. To me, it was a veritable visual and textural feast. I loved the ‘chainmail’ dangling from the track lighting, which curves along the ceiling; I loved the rattan lamp shades hanging above the tables; and I especially loved the lava lamp animation on the LED screen above the shared table centrepiece.
The visuals displayed on this LED lighting panel can be changed depending on the occasion, so, for example, there could be fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Even the quartz marble shared table is a ‘trip’ – you can get lost in this marvellous piece of ancient history just by examining the different swirls of colour created by nature over hundreds of millions of years. The same stone is used to stunning effect around the bar, where premium spirits are backlit so patrons can see what’s on offer.
My girl friends and I settled into one of the plush booths for cheeky Friday afternoon knock-off drinks and nibbles. There’s nothing like Lounge Seventy Two in the heart of Maroochydore, especially for women my age, who want somewhere to go where we feel safe, comfortable and relaxed. I could imagine it would also be a great space to pop into after dinner at Maroochy RSL Bistro or the local surrounds.
Personally, I feel too old hanging around Ocean Street when it transforms into a nightclub precinct in the late evening, so I’m glad there’s somewhere welcoming I can go for a nightcap and listen to live music on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And if you feel inclined to get down and boogie, there’s a dancefloor right near where the bands play.
Executive chef Gareth Little says the whole concept of Lounge Seventy Two “is this idea of sharing time, sharing food and having a few drinks”.
“The first thing you see when you come through the doors of the RSL is Lounge Seventy Two and it’s a space where we want everybody to feel comfortable to share their time and their company,” Gareth says.
We pored through the impressive wine and cocktail list before deciding to order some signature cocktails, which were created by the club and are exclusive to Lounge Seventy Two. With names like Studio Seventy Two and Sunshine in ‘72, who could resist raising a toast to the era? After all, it was a time of unprecedented cultural change and wild creativity.
In fact, I felt duty-bound to sample three. I started with the “dangerously smooth” Lychee Disco made with Ketel One Vodka, lychee liqueur, prosecco and lemonade.
It’s a deliciously (and deceptively) light cocktail that would go down all too easily on a hot summer day, so I moved on to the Fuego. This delightfully tart and citrusy chilli margarita had just the right degree of afterburn. It’s made with house-infused chilli tequila and other ingredients typical of a classic margarita – with a twist.
As we’d moved on to seconds, we decided it would be prudent to order some share plates. We had Asian-inspired prawn twisters, crispy chicken bao and a sharing plate.
The plate was piled with all sorts of delicious delicatessen treats: Spanish-style prosciutto, salami, smoked cheddar, Australian olives, olive oil infused with pomegranate molasses, a spicy hummus dip and toasted flat bread to soak it all up.
Between the three of us, it was just the right amount of snacky food to keep the hunger wolf from the door. Each dish had its merits, but I have to declare my favourite was the prawn twisters with pickled vegetables and nam jim dipping sauce.
This finger food had a lovely garlicky taste and mild chilli kick. From first bite of the crispy fried filo pastry exterior to hitting the juicy prawns inside and then savouring the sweet-sourness of the Thai-style dipping sauce and the pickled vegetables – it was very more-ish.
As the afternoon rolled into the evening, how could I resist Jackie’s After Party? This dessert-like cocktail with Frangelico, Kahlua, butterscotch schnapps, cream and chocolate syrup tasted like a superior semifreddo.
And this time to borrow from Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: oh, what a night.
Indeed, yes. I’m glad to have a space I can call my second loungeroom.