In 1976, the duo of Simon Leadley and Greg Creecy, with the addition of Geoff Watson, discovered a dusty, abandoned photographic studio on Oxford Street and transformed it into one of Sydney’s first commercial rehearsal studios. Known as Esma Studios (affectionately nicknamed “Asthma” due to its air quality), the space was outfitted with PA systems for hire and a modest 4-track recording setup. It quickly became a word-of-mouth hotspot for local bands. But when developers moved in a few years later to demolish the building, the team faced a critical decision: give up or go bigger.