About VicBears
Our community, since 1996.
Built by the community, for the community. Melbourne's home for the bear community — a social, inclusive, and event-led club running thirty years strong.
What we are
VicBears is Melbourne's LGBTQ+ bear community social club. We were founded in 1996 by a small group of bears who wanted a regular place to meet, socialise, and look out for one another. Thirty years on, that idea hasn't changed — it's only grown.
Membership is open to anyone who identifies with the bear community and our broader LGBTQ+ family. We welcome allies, partners, and friends. If the room feels like the right room, you're in the right room.
We run monthly socials, an annual summer festival (BearFest), and an annual winter festival (Southern HiBearnation), plus aquatics, food nights, costume parties, and the Mr VicBears and Mr Australasia Bear pageants. Roughly one hundred and twenty events a year, give or take a Den Night.
A condensed history
Read the full historyThe last thirty years, in twelve milestones.
1996
VicBears founded
A small group of bears in Melbourne form VicBears as an informal social club.
1998
First Den Nights
Regular monthly socials begin. The Laird becomes the home venue.
2003
AquaBear launches
The community swim sessions start. Bears take to the water.
2009
Mr VicBears pageant
First annual pageant. A new sash bearer crowned each year.
2013
Southern HiBearnation founded
Winter festival launches, modelled on international HiBearnation events.
2017
BearFest becomes annual
Summer festival moves to a fixed January–February window.
Under /about
Six sub-pages for the bits that need their own space.
This isn't just a community. It's thirty years of chosen family finding each other.— VicBears Incorporated, est. 1996