15th Birthday Weekender at Ponyfish Island

Overview

Tucked beneath Melbourne CBD's Evan Walker Bridge, Ponyfish Island is often considered the city's original on-river bar. Taking over an ice cream kiosk back in 2010, the spot was initially conceived as a creative summer pop-up. Now on the eve of its 15th anniversary, the bustling venue is gearing up to celebrate its success, hosting a three-day Birthday Weekender from Friday, November 28–Sunday, November 30.

To kick things off, Ponyfish is leaning into its origins. With the venue partly named after the crayon creature that appears in Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Academy Award-winning creative Leo Baker has created two installations just for the occasion. That includes a permanent Life Aquatic-inspired DJ console shaped after the captain's control panel, and a mini submarine that will spend the summer suspended beneath Ponyfish's overhead bridge.

As for the weekend's entertainment, expect DJs to ring in the milestone from 7pm–late each day, with the likes of Edd Fisher, No Era and Cooper Smith joined by Ponyfish owners Grant Smillie (a two-time ARIA Award winner, no less) and Andrew Mackinnon. Of course, an unforgettable birthday bash also needs solid discounts to match; Ponyfish isn't skipping a beat with $15 cocktails and pizzas throughout the weekend. And if you hear the bell ring, you've just scored a shout at the bar.

Meanwhile, Ponyfish will also unveil a brand-new nautical look and debut fresh uniforms inspired by the aforementioned movie's whimsical seafaring spirit. "Turning 15 felt like the perfect excuse to dial everything up — the music, the menu, the uniforms, the whole experience," says Smillie. "Ponyfish has always been about fun, and this weekend is really a thank you to Melbourne for embracing this quirky little spot in the middle of the river."

Images: Michael Pham.