My son just had his 18th on the “Pirate Boat” on Lake Burley Griffin. They take up to 45 people, $150 per hour. BYOG and food. They even cook your steaks/snags on the BBQ for you if you want.

Gatecrashers would have to be pretty good swimmers so no need for security

hire a room at one of the clubs. grog is there, security is there, and you dont have to clean up. tuggies at lanyon has a reasonable sized room downstairs. not sure of the cost.

I recommend “The Club” – whatever the most convenient local social club might be. Maybe some might refuse and you may need to shop-around.
When I was at that age, many of the best 18′ths, 21’sts or Whythehecknot’s were held in licensed clubs.

Try Canberra Services Club in Manuka

Rose Cottage in Gilmore (corner of Monaro Hwy and Isabella Drive) would probably be a good idea. It’s fairly remote, which means gatecrasher would rarely be a problem and I’ve been there for dinner before when an 18th birthday party was being set up for.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations. I hear some of the clubs aren’t so keen on 18ths so I’ll shop around. The Lanyon Club would be good – nice and close to home.

The Pirate Boat sounds like it could be fun and 45 is more than enough attendees I reckon.

Had a bad experience with Rose Cottage when trying to book for hubby’s 50th. I was happy to pay the approx $25/head quoted for a banquet but they wanted to hit me up another $600+ for room hire. I argued with them on the basis that they’d have good bar takings but they still wouldn’t budge. Tuggeranong Homestead was a similar story.

Any of the Vikings clubs would be good. Rose Cottage parties have been crashed (it’s only a 2 minute drive from Chisholm after all).

pptvb, thanks for the heads up about the Canberra Services Club – I wouldn’t even have thought of it and it’d be really handy to Manuka for when they want to ditch the oldies and head out to the clubs.

I know the Burns Club in Kambah will host an 18th Birthday Party as I have worked at a couple there.

The room rates are pretty reasonable and catering is available.

Thanks notdingers

‘nother question. Does anyone know of a local rockabilly band that won’t send me broke? Or even a DJ who’d have access to that style of music?

My two suggestions would be

http://www.jonnozilber.com/index.php

or

http://www.thefuelers.com/stageshow.html

not sure how much they would charge though

Here’s another rockabilly act http://www.myspace.com/charliegreaser

Instead of assuming clubs not wanting to hold 18th’s, just call them, the worst that they can do is say “no”, then you call the next club. Best bet would be to try a pub though, they would seem happier about your business and more than willing to cater (even though they may still be open for standard business instead of having a closed door party).

Also you shouldn’t worry about “gatecrashers” unless you’re a douche, your friends are douches and there is another group of people who are also douches that don’t like you.

In other words, tell your friends to keep the word on the party quite, you shouldn’t have any unwelcoming guests (except maybe a stray punter that I’m sure the venue can take care of).

OJOS or The Maram both book out their rooms.

I believe you can hire Tharwa village hall. Bit remote and you have to cater everything yourself.

Thanks DJPea, I’ll check them out.

I eventually did find a club (thanks to pptvb) and have made a tentative booking at The Canberra Services Club.

Sadly the party isn’t for me (how I’d love to be 18 again!) but for my daughter who definitely isn’t a douche. Her friends are good kids and I’ll make sure they keep it quiet (unlike a party they all attended last year where there ended up being hundreds of kids (and police) in attendance)

Glad your daughter isn’t a douche, I wouldn’t worry too much about gatecrashers, like I was saying, with them, bullshit breeds with bullshit. They never pick a party at random to rock up to, they’re folk who have heard of a great party and assume they’re invited (like the douches they are).

Don’t Maccas have party rooms?

Go further south until you get to the bush. Have the party there where the “18ths” can go feral without damaging your homestead.

Speaking of bush, I know someone who had they’re wedding and afterparty at the Yarralumla woolshed. I’m currently sorting out my 18th, and thought that would be a great place as its further away from houses and such. Yeah or nah?

Our school had their year 12 afterparty there. I just found that it was so cold (in the middle of summer), obviously kinda smelt like cattle and was very remote. This would tend to be a good thing although it was pretty easy for gate crashers to get to. There is no security and multiple entrances so there is pretty easy access to the venue. It does provide a good space though.