It may look like an ordinary building – but what’s planned for the inside has residents furious

Furious residents and business owners have rallied against a swingers club that is set to open just a few minutes walk from a primary school.

The two-storey building on City Road in South Melbourne, once home to an IT business, will soon be transformed into a swingers club called Pineapples Lifestyle Bar with capacity for 200 people.

Architect Tony Baenziger is one of dozens protesting against the club which is due to open in November. 

He and more than 100 community members believe the club does not belong in the busy area, which is home to a school, residential apartment building, businesses and a church.

‘It’s really important for people to understand that we don’t have a problem with the business – even though it’s not my cup of tea,’ Mr Baenziger told Daily Mail Australia.

‘We just don’t want it here, it’s not the right place.’

The swingers club, which describes itself as ‘Melbourne’s premier adult playground’ plans to open between 10am and 2am, seven days a week, and offer drinks as well as live music.

‘Our purpose-built venue has an industry leading layout, furnishings and event schedule, designed to elevate hedonistic events to a never before seen level of sophistication, arousal and titillation,’ the website states.

He and more than 100 community members believe a swingers club does not belong in a busy residential area

‘Early in the night, the ground floor functions very much like vanilla venues you may have attended before. However, as the night progresses, you may find people shedding their clothing slowly (and sometimes quickly) down to their underwear. 

‘Our thorough screening, couching and unique introduction process ensures only the most respectful, consent-focused and diversely inclusive people attend our events.’

But Mr Baenziger, who has owned a business next door to the new club for 34 years, believes it will affect both his customers and staff.

‘Our clients come to our offices and they’ll have to pass this place,’ he said. 

‘We’re worried about noise. We’re worried about waste management. We’re worried about our young women staff.

‘We’re very concerned particularly during the winter months when it’s dark early and they have to walk to their cars. ‘It’s not great as it is already but, you know, to have a venue like this next door isn’t fantastic.’

Despite receiving 33 written objections from local residents, the City of Port Phillip council gave the green light for the club to open. 

Mr Baenziger has lodged a dispute with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal as a last-ditch attempt to stop it from going ahead.

One key detail that has angered parents is that children will be walking past the club to get to the local primary school. 

 ‘There’s a lot of kids that walk. Their parents walk with them to school and they walk past our office, meaning they’d have to walk past this place,’ Mr Baenziger said.

The venue has described itself as Melbourne’s premier adult playground 

More than 120 people have signed an online petition to stop the swingers club from opening

Mr Baenziger hopes VCAT will prevent the swingers club from opening once it sees the community’s objection

‘It’s an area that we’d like to think would be more suited to family-friendly, even people friendly, businesses.’

More than 120 people have also signed an online petition to stop the bar from opening.

‘This location is entirely inappropriate for such a venue, given its proximity to residential areas, schools, and family-oriented businesses,’ it states.

‘Despite numerous objections from local residents and business owners, the council has granted a permit that disregards the character and values of our neighbourhood and what the area should try to aspire to in the future.’

Mr Baenziger hopes VCAT will prevent the swingers club from opening once it sees the community’s objection.

 ‘The world’s gone mad,’ he said. 

‘These places used to all be in the back blocks in industrial areas. Now you can just just about put them anywhere.’

 Pineapples Lifestyle Bar has been contacted for comment.