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The Sportsman Hotel: A Community Institution

1985-2026 Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill Photo Contributed April 2026

The Sportsman Hotel on Leichhardt Street in Spring Hill has been a cornerstone of Brisbane’s LGBTQ+ community since the 1980s. Originally a traditional pub, it transformed into one of Queensland’s most iconic queer venues, hosting drag shows, community fundraisers, and social gatherings for decades.

Through the darkest years of the AIDS crisis, the Sportsman served as a vital community hub: a safe space where people could gather, grieve, organise, and celebrate.

Community Nightlife 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
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More from the 1980s

We pay our respects to the traditional custodians of country and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their culture, their connection to country, and their ancestors and elders past and present. We also express our heartfelt gratitude to our pioneering founders and every individual whose activism, and advocacy have shaped our community over the years.