Only hours after announcing her resignation as Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan gathered with political colleagues, ministerial staff and long-time supporters for a farewell celebration that offered a rare glimpse into the personal side of one of the state’s most dramatic political transitions.

The farewell took place at the Union Club Hotel in Fitzroy, a venue long associated with Victorian Labor figures.

According to attendees, the gathering began shortly after Allan formally stepped down as premier and continued well into the evening, with celebrations reportedly lasting until around 1am before moving to the home of one of her staff members.

Those present described the atmosphere as emotional but unexpectedly upbeat.

One attendee characterised the evening as having a “sad but good vibe”, reflecting both the disappointment surrounding Allan’s departure and appreciation for her decades of public service.

Despite the political upheaval of the previous 48 hours, friends said Allan appeared relaxed and spent much of the evening speaking with colleagues and supporters.

The guest list itself became a talking point inside Spring Street.

Many of those attending had publicly supported Allan during the leadership crisis that ended her premiership, including ministers, MPs and senior advisers aligned with Labor’s Socialist Left faction.

Among those reported to have attended were Minister Nick Staikos, MP Josh Bull and Footscray MP Katie Hall, together with numerous members of Allan’s ministerial office.

One person who reportedly attracted attention during the evening was Allan’s Chief of Staff, Damian Karmelich.

According to one Labor insider quoted by media outlets, Karmelich was “having a great time all things considered”, despite the difficult political circumstances surrounding the government’s leadership transition.

The farewell also highlighted who was absent.

Several senior Labor figures associated with the successful leadership change that elevated Ben Carroll to the premiership were not reported to have attended, reinforcing the political divisions that emerged during the dramatic caucus contest.

Although Carroll publicly thanked Allan for her service and received her formal endorsement before becoming premier, the leadership spill exposed significant differences within the governing party that remain fresh only days later.

According to reports, Allan also used the evening to make her future intentions clear.

She reportedly told several colleagues that she did not intend to remain in Parliament through to the November state election, indicating that her departure from frontline politics would be permanent rather than temporary.

That expectation has since been reinforced by Labor insiders, who believe Allan’s formal resignation from Parliament will occur in the coming weeks.

The gathering itself was not without lighter moments.

Staff reportedly discovered that no official bar tab had been arranged despite the large number of guests, requiring attendees to organise their own drinks throughout much of the evening.

Far from dampening spirits, however, insiders suggested the oversight became another talking point among guests as the farewell continued late into the night.

The celebration followed one of the most turbulent periods in recent Victorian political history.

After days of speculation, Allan announced she would stand aside rather than contest an internal leadership ballot she believed would divide the party only months before the November election.

Her resignation immediately cleared the way for Deputy Premier Ben Carroll to become Victoria’s 50th premier.

Carroll wasted little time signalling a new direction for the government.

Within hours of being sworn in, he announced plans for a Royal Commission into the construction sector, the appointment of a special prosecutor and expanded powers for Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).

He also declared that integrity would become a defining principle of his administration, promising to lead differently from both Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan.

The political consequences of the leadership change have continued to unfold.

Senior ministers Harriet Shing and Lily D’Ambrosio—both close allies of Allan—have since announced they will retire from politics, while Carroll prepares a cabinet reshuffle aimed at presenting Labor with a refreshed team before voters head to the polls.

Observers say the departures mark the gradual conclusion of the Andrews–Allan era that has dominated Victorian Labor for more than a decade.

For Allan personally, the farewell represented the closing chapter of a parliamentary career spanning more than a quarter of a century.

First elected for Bendigo East in 1999, she became Victoria’s second female premier in 2023 after succeeding Daniel Andrews and spent almost three years leading the state before internal dissatisfaction over polling, economic challenges and political strategy ultimately led to her resignation.

Colleagues who attended the farewell described a politician determined to leave public life with dignity despite the difficult circumstances surrounding her departure.

Rather than focusing on the leadership contest itself, conversations reportedly centred on friendships developed over decades in Parliament, shared campaigns and the personal relationships built through years of government.

That contrast between the intensity of politics inside Parliament and the more reflective mood at the Union Club Hotel illustrated how quickly political fortunes can change.

Only hours earlier, Allan had been premier of Victoria.

By nightfall, she was raising a glass with long-time allies as Labor prepared to enter a new chapter under Ben Carroll’s leadership.