In the heart of St Kilda, Melbourne, the Fifth Province Irish pub has long been a favorite gathering spot, offering a perfect blend of delicious food, great drinks, live music, and lively conversation. Recently, the pub underwent an exciting transformation to elevate its entertainment experience. A frictionless installation with a focus on ease of use for the staff.
The Challenge
The Fifth Province’s expansion required an audio system that could adapt to various settings:
Versatility: The system needed to deliver powerful, high-quality sound suitable for live bands, DJs, sports broadcasts, and background music across different areas.
Ease of Use: Staff required a user-friendly interface to control audio levels and sources seamlessly, ensuring efficient operation during busy periods.
Durability: Outdoor areas demanded weather-resistant equipment capable of withstanding Melbourne’s variable climate without compromising sound quality.
Aesthetic Integration: The audio equipment had to blend with the venue’s design, maintaining the authentic Irish pub atmosphere while incorporating modern technology.
The Process
Scaling up while preserving authenticity
Fin Brennan, Operations Manager for Ganley Group Hospitality, emphasized the importance of enhancing the venue without losing its essence:
“There’s a few different things that were really important to us when we were thinking about the new installation. One of those things was ‘bigger is better.’ The crowd has been coming to this pub for 10 years; they’ve been really loyal to it, and we’ve been really loyal to live music and local acts. So, keeping that going but putting it on a bigger scale was important. We needed a sound system to match that, and Ilias and the guys at Jands managed to achieve that.“
Scene area of The Fifth Province
Simplifying operations was crucial for the staff.
“It needs to be really easy to use for the staff. In terms of the system they’ve put in place, we’re clicking buttons on screens—volume up and down, automatic volume set for certain areas. With televisions, we’re now controlling everything from one place when it comes to commentary, music, advertising—whatever you want to put on the TV is a touch of a button. That kind of user access and ease of use was really important, and we’ve managed to achieve that as well, so it’s been really great.”
The Solution
Frictionless installation and ease of use system with Blaze Audio amplification
To meet these challenges, The Fifth Province partnered with JANDS and Melbourne AV integration partner Aeon Technologies to design and commission a newly upgraded audio system. The system features Electro-Voice loudspeakers and Blaze Audio amplifiers, delivering rich and full sound across the venue’s various spaces.
The collaboration transformed The Fifth Province into a venue where:
Enchaned Entertainment: Live music, bigger bands, DJs, and a stunning big screen for sports create unforgettable moments.
Versatile Spaces: A new whiskey bar, massive beer garden, veranda area, and an expanded public bar offer diverse experiences.
Quality Sound: The integrated audio system delivers exceptional sound quality throughout the pub’s various spaces.
The Fifth Province pub’s bar area.
“Ten years later, here we are, and four months ago, The Fifth Province reopened with a huge extension—a whiskey bar, massive beer garden, veranda area, and the public bar, which was the older Fifth Province. That became an even bigger venue in terms of what we have to offer with live music, bigger bands, DJs, and a much bigger sound system. Jands has done a fantastic job.”
– Fin Brennan, Operations Manager for Ganley Group Hospitality
Watch the Fifth Province case study here:
Fin Brennan describes the venue and the value behind the installation for the Fifth Province.
End note
The Fifth Province’s transformation showcases how strategic audio upgrades can significantly enhance a venue’s atmosphere and guest experience. By addressing challenges of versatility, ease of use, durability, and aesthetic integration, the collaboration resulted in an entertainment experience like no other—where delicious food, crafted drinks, live music, and sports come together to create unforgettable moments.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to pivotal roles in the transformation:
