Helpmann Win A Boon For Hanging Rock

Victoria’s Hanging Rock got a boost from its big win at the Aug. 1 Helpmann Awards. The picturesque Australian setting helped land the award for best international contemporary concert for its Leonard Cohen show.

Cohen’s show was the first at the picturesque area made famous by the movie “Picnic At Hanging Rock.” It drew 15,000 fans.

Frontier Touring Company managing director Michael Gudinski, who has a holiday home nearby, told Pollstar he had long wanted to set up shows in the region, which is reminiscent of Colorado’s Red Rocks.

“Leonard was the right person to launch a site which has such a great vibe,” he said.

The local council, which granted permission for four shows in the environmentally sensitive area, was impressed with the win.

Rod Stewart, a fan of the movie, asked to be booked there during his February tour.

Gudinski, who hopes to see the site one day included in Australia’s tourism ads abroad, is musing another event before Christmas.