There aren’t too many topics that actually make my blood boil, but the constant demolition and desecration of old pubs around Australia—Victoria seems to be a repeat offender—all in the name of….is it progress?
The latest to hit the apparent chopping block is the legendary Macalister Hotel in Maffra. Once one of the best pubs in Victoria, the pub has been dormant since being sold (for $1.16M) in 2021. Plans for redevelopment are currently before Wellington Council, and they would have be some of the more bizarre plans I’ve heard of.
For context, parts of the Macalister Hotel are original, meaning they are more than 150 years old. The main structure was built in 1922 after a fire destroyed parts of the hotel, so at the very least, the hotel is 100 years old.
Stock and Land journalist Ed Gannon spoke to 3AW about the plans for the Macalister Hotel:
“The old façade is going to stay the same, and a showroom with new tractors so basically you can sit there at the bar and through the glass doors is these new tractors so you can wander around and see if you can buy a tractor,”
The plans–which can be seen here–will see the entire site demolished except for the building’s facade and be replaced with a new lounge/bar, kitchen, beer garden, and as any good bar has, a tractor showroom. The plans also make room for tractor parking on the River Street site of the hotel site.
Will keep an eye on this one.
L
