Hopetoun Hotel, Music venue in Surry Hills, Australia

Hopetoun Hotel is a heritage-listed, two-storey face-brick building in Surry Hills, an example of early Federation warehouse style. It has occupied its site for over 150 years and was built between 1836 and 1839. The upper floor once housed live music, with a stage so close that Sarah Blasko said you could almost order a drink from it.

The building was constructed between 1836 and 1839 as the Cookatoo Inn, receiving its present name in 1901 to honor Lord Hopetoun, Australia's first Governor-General. This renaming preceded its later transformation into a live music venue during the 20th century.

The pub's nickname, "The Hoey", comes from its 1901 renaming after Lord Hopetoun, Australia's first Governor-General. From 1997, when siblings Evangelos and Anastasia Patakas bought it for $1.5 million, it ran as a live music room where the Hoodoo Gurus played under the alias Dork Stick and Wolfmother, Paul Kelly and Sarah Blasko appeared. Blasko said you almost feel you could order a drink from the stage.

The venue operated as an active music space until 2009, when noise complaints from nearby residents led to closure. Check current status before visiting, as the building remains inactive despite previous renovation plans.

During its closure in 2012, the hotel's interior was used as a filming location for the Marvel film The Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman. This unexpected use transformed the dormant space into a set for a major motion picture.