The sisters sold the Gatwick in 2017 to an undisclosed buyer. In 2018 the new owners were revealed to be the Nine Network, producers of popular renovation series The Block.
The Banks and Kelly family’s legacy of compassion is engrained in this building and when all of it (except for the exterior façade) was torn down and rebuilt by The Block the twins mourned the loss of the building like any other family member.
Walking down Fitzroy Street with her grandchildren months after the sale and hand over, Yvette was compelled to buy a piece of the family’s legacy back after one of the children pointed at the closed building and asked, ‘There’s Nanny’s house, can we pop in?’
When The Block apartments went under the hammer on October 28th, 2018, the sisters bid and won one of the five that were up for aution.
The sisters intend to retire in the apartment and spend their last years in the building that brought so much love, laughter and joy to their lives for over fifty years. ‘Every window has a story’, said Rose.
Rose and Yvette see the residents of the Gatwick as their children, or, in their own words: “They’re all somebody’s children, and they’re our children now”.
The place was both a fortress and a community. Once you crossed the front steps, you were in a completely different time and space: an outpost from yesteryear, a quirky village, a microcosm of poets, lovers, revellers and dreamers. Nobody is outcast. Everybody belongs.
Once offered over seven million dollars for the Gatwick, the sisters turned it down in order to continue doing what they loved. For decades the building had provided shelter, community and a home in which every single person was welcome and accepted. They housed over 80 residents and unsurprisingly, the rooms (and hallways) were always full.
Launch Housing has been selected as the official charity partner of Gatwick: Last Chance Hotel. While we were not involved in its making, we welcome the attention this documentary brings to a crucial issue.
Launch Housing is an independent, Melbourne-based community organisation whose mission is to end homelessness. We provide housing and support services to thousands of people each year, including crisis accommodation. From helping someone to find and keep a safe home in Melbourne, to advocating for social and policy change all over Australia, everything we do is a step toward ending homelessness.
We believe housing is a basic human right that affords people dignity. Everyone has a right to a home and it is our job to make this happen. We know solutions to the housing crisis must come from the whole community—non-profits, government, and you.
In addition to our official charity partner Launch Housing, we will be making a significant donation to STREAT.
They provide wrap-around support including individual case management, linkages to other specialist service providers as needed (drug and alcohol, mental health, housing services), group Work Readiness programs, and creative and social activities.
Also they provide a range hospitality programs including accredited certificate courses, work experience programs, and short courses. We also provide workplace training and mentoring for each young person across STREAT’s inner Melbourne cafés and production kitchen. As a social enterprise, STREAT reinvests 100% of its profits back into supporting and training youth.
They work towards our young people having a safe and long-term place to live through partnerships with a wide range of Melbourne housing services.
Fast Facts
Since starting in Federation Square in March 2010 with two small food carts we’ve had....Over 1,100 young people in our programs. Who’ve worked across our now 7 businesses and helped serve over 2 million meals and coffees to our customers, whilst gaining over 65,000 hours of life-skills support, hospitality training and work experience.
Since starting in Federation Square in March 2010 with two small food carts STREAT has had...
- Over 1,100 young people in their programs
- Who’ve worked across their now 7 businesses
- And helped serve over 2 million meals and coffees to customers
- Whilst gaining over 65,000 hours of life-skills support, hospitality training and work experience.
Jason has produced the feature films Brothers’ Nest, Sucker, Rats and Cats (with director Tony Rogers) and Little Deaths (winner of best feature film at SPAA, 2008). He co-produced the IF Award-winning feature film One Perfect Day and produced the tele-feature The Heart Break Tour and ABC documentaries Beyond the Backyard and feature-length Shadowplay.
Byrne has produced many internationally recognised TV commercials and award-winning short films with Directors Rachel Griffiths (Roundabout), Clayton Jacobson (I Love U), Eron Sheehan (Fish), Edwin McGill (Booth Story and Imprint) and Josh Whiteman (One Minute).
He is currently in production on feature films The Girls and No Prisoners, all of which received recent development funding. This will be Jason’s directing debut.
A Screen Producer’s One’s to Watch Alumni, Tropfest 2015 Winner and 2018 AACTA AFI Award Nominee - Julian is a passionate storyteller whose mandate is to tell compelling human stories no matter the genre or medium. Gatwick: The Last Chance Hotel is a career highlight, the most worthwhile story to date and has inspired him to follow the subject matter with the aim of continuing the societal discussion about homelessness and mental illness in future projects.
With 25 years’ experience, Sara Edwards has edited across a wide variety of genres. In addition to over sixty music videos, numerous television commercials, television drama and animation series she has edited nine documentary feature films. Her work on the documentary feature Not Quite Hollywood earned her an AACTA award nomination. Crafting the story of the sisters in Gatwick: The Last Chance hotel has been one of her most rewarding experiences. They are truly beautiful and inspirational women whose story needs to be shared.
This film would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, thank you.