Mar 2019, Whorouly, Vic We’re camped at Whorouly Recreation Reserve and the pub, like many in the bush opens at 3 in the afternoon. We stroll over the bridge admiring the cow paddocks. Graham is the publican and an all-round … Continue reading Whorouly Hotel
There is nothing worse than seeing an interesting pub only to find that you are way too early and the joint won’t be open until lunchtime or worse still 4:00pm like so many country establishments these days. One can only … Continue reading Dromedary Hotel, Central Tilba
Mar, 2019, Toora, Vic The tiny milk factory town of Toora (If you’re old enough you may remember Tooralac powdered milk) seems to be battling for survival but it’s grand old pub, The Royal Standard Hotel, is certainly punching above its weight. A herd of us dropped in for a Friday night dinner and we weren’t disappointed by the menu. The seafood platter for one is big enough for two. The fish is locally caught and the meat supplied by nearby Foster butcher Prom Meats (whose sausages I’m sure I’ve written about in the past). Yes, good sausages do deserve … Continue reading The Royal Standard
One of our favourite watering holes is the historic Kevington Hotel (aka the Kevington Hilton) at Kevington in Victoria’s high country. Situated on a bend of the winding road that follows the wild Goulburn River ‘The Kevi’ is a welcome sight for the weary traveller. The front bar is a treat, adorned with gold rush photos of days gone by and once neighbouring valley hotels that have succumbed to fire. This is an area popular with deer hunters and on the wall hangs the head of a magnificent deer that wasn’t shot but the victim of a road accident not … Continue reading A bevi @ the Kevi
Sept 2015, Portland, Vic In Portland, we have lunch at Mac’s Bentinck Hotel (1856) overlooking the harbour. It is a grand three storey hotel with loads of seafaring history in the bar a boat suspended above our heads and a … Continue reading Mac’s Bentinck Hotel
Who needs a minimalist pub? Any good country pub worth its salt really should have local history displayed on its walls. Like the curiosity pubs of old there should be plenty to entertain the ‘out of towners’ and help them understand a little about the locals and their way of life. Sepia photos of wool drays up to their axles in mud. Beaming young blokes draped in dead rabbits or staggering under the weight of a fish. Dead livestock nailed to the walls. Heads of deer, snarling wild pigs and crocodiles that didn’t get away. At the Commercial Hotel in … Continue reading The Stuff of Pub Walls
Nov 2018, Cavendish, Vic The Cavendish Recreational Camping Ground is beside the Wannon River. We visited with our Caravan Club on a cold Friday morning. Yet another place for the bucket list when in this area as there are toilets … Continue reading Target Practice
The Port Campbell Pub is only a block away from the NRMA Port Campbell Holiday Park. There’s a tang of salt in the air as we walk up the hill to the charming and welcoming old weatherboard. Inside it is warm and cosy and packed with tourists and locals. The meal is a little dearer than your average country pub, but the menu and quality is a cut above too. My braised beef cheeks on mash just fall apart by the forkful and they’re surrounded by fresh and tasty vegetables. A perfect meal to end a day of walking windswept … Continue reading Port Campbell Hotel
I have a soft spot for architecture of all types. I’m fascinated with the way housing developed differently in each state and territory of Australia to adapt to the climate and needs in each area. The soft beauty of the … Continue reading You’ve just gotta love Queensland pubs
Goondiwindi (pronounced Gun da windy), southern Queensland, almost August 2017 Just over the NSW Qld border, Goondiwindi is a bustling hub for interstate trucks and farmers. Cotton, grain and wool are the industries of choice. We choose the quietest caravan … Continue reading Goondiwindi
