Just stumbled across this killer mini-documentary on Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion and how it launched Australian rave culture, by Myles Cooper and spotlighting Abel El Toro‘s journey from working at those RAT parties in late-’80s all-nighters that were the only places to hear that early disco, garage, and acid house sound.. to promoting events that defined the rave scene in Sydney.

The Hordern hosted massive groundbreaking parties with icons like Grace Jones, Adeva, Jungle Brothers and Frankie Knuckles on the decks, alongside our cities DJ legends including Stephen Allkins, PeeWee, Robert Racic, Stephen Ferris, JOhn Ferris & more. They were first big events that birthed generations of DJs, dancers, and promoters before evolving into epic raves and festivals like Happy Valley, Big Day Out, and Vibes on a Summer’s Day.

Packed with raw VHS energy of mates filming wild shows and icons colliding, it shouts out preservers like Abel El Toro, Ming D, Margee Brown, Maynard (Sydney Rave History), Sydney Back in the Day, 93 Punching the Light, What’s The BPM, Danny Rants, Craze, Steph Gyory, House of Love Film, and the Just Ace podcast for keeping our disco, house, and funk soul alive.

Soul of Sydney lives for this history as we spin the funk and disco that shaped us—perfect timing with Hordern-era legend Stephen Allkins (Sydney’s Mr. Disco and every DJ’s DJ) headlining our Frankie Knuckles tribute this Sunday to bridge those soulful disco-to-rave vibes live (tickets at soulofsydney.org).

Watch it here: How Hordern Pavilion Ignited Australian Rave Culture. See you on the floor!