Verity Lane Market brings new life and tastes to the Sydney Building

Posted on 20 October, 2020

Generations of Canberrans have come of age in the various nightclubs and watering holes which have inhabited the historic walls of the Sydney Building on Northbourne Avenue.

But thanks to the vision and investment of entrepreneur and former Australian Rolling Stone Magazine publisher Phillip Keir, new generations can enjoy far more salubrious and gastronomic experiences as they continue to inhabit this Canberra landmark.

From Thursday, Verity Lane Market will see some of Canberra’s best chefs congregate in the professional kitchens to create a gastronomic ground zero in the heart of the city.

Credit: Lean Timms.

There are also grand plans for a wine bar named Dear Prudence, and, given Phillip’s long association with the music scene, a live music venue upstairs.

The Market will open with three kitchens: Enoki Project is driven by Gerald Ong of Chairman and Yip fame, featuring a menu inspired by favourite Asian flavours and Gerald’s modern sensibility; Ramen Daddy, the newest venture of locals Eddy Tsai and John Leverink who have collided French and Japanese cultures to create a modern menu of ramen delights; and Silvio Miceli’s Pizza Artigiana, serving up traditional Italian pizza like it’s an art form.

Credit: Ashley St George.

Of course, every great food hall comes equipped with world-class drinks.

At Verity Lane Market, these will be served directly from the early 20^th century inspired Verity Bar and feature an array of exceptional wines, spirits and craft beers, as well as a cocktail list curated by cocktail connoisseur, Benito Drovandi.

Consider for a moment the ‘Verity Martini’, a delicious blend of rhubarb vermouth, vodka, and passion fruit served “dangerously short,” according to Benito, which heads the October cocktail list.

Credit: Lean Timms.

Verity Lane Market takes its name from Verity Hewitt who opened Canberra’s first bookshop above Leo’s Café in the late 1930s.

Of course, this piece of the Sydney Building went on to house the renowned Private Bin, which in turn became Insomnia, ICBM, Meche and North Bar.

Phillip bought the venue in the 1990s as an investment, having come from a family with a long connection to Canberra and the surrounds—the Keirs have variously owned prominent equine and bus businesses.

But having lived and worked in some of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world—New York and London among them—Phillip wanted to bring a more cosmopolitan life to the somewhat run-down building when the right time presented itself.

Credit: Lean Timms.

Verity Lane Market has been designed by Mather Architecture, recently known for its prize-winning re-design of Monaro Mall, and celebrates a playful dialogue of the building’s many-layered history.

It also uses the rear laneway—Verity Lane—to invigorate laneway culture in Canberra and revitalise the forgotten heart of the city.

Credit: Lean Timms.

While the arrival of COVID deferred the planned opening of the precinct late last year, Phillip says he is thrilled to be throwing open the (massive steel-framed hanger) doors on Thursday.

“We have a number of exciting vendors ready to move into our remaining three kitchens and have planned for some unique and exciting pop-ups to open before the end of the year,” he says.

“We’ve also strategically set up a Test Kitchen to allow for interested chefs to trial new concepts before committing to a kitchen.”

We can’t say too much at this stage, but Verity Lane Market promises to be part of a larger food and entertainment precinct set to take over the Sydney Building. We will bring you more news as each new attraction comes to fruition.