Beer flows again
Thorpdale locals returned to their drinking hole last week when the Traveller’s Rest Hotel re-opened. Closed for more than two years after a fire in April 2017, the town welcomed the opening of its much loved meeting place. The fire tragically claimed the life of fourth-generation publican Johnny Bantock. New owners Lisa and Anthony Robinson are determined to give the town a much needed community hub. “We are excited to have it up and running for the town more than anything,” Lisa said.
by Yvette Brand Thorpdale was a town in mourning two years ago when its “local” was extensively damaged by a fire that claimed the life of its much-loved publican.
As the community grieved for fourth generation publican Johnny Bantock, it also faced an uncertain future about how a country town could retain a community hub.
The Traveller’s Rest Hotel was an institution in the town and the fatal fire left the small farming community in shock.
It was more than a place where people went for a drink, it was a place for people to go; and Johnny’s doors were always open. With no pub, there was no community hub and no meeting place
Last week, the glasses were raised once again in the iconic pub as locals celebrated its reopening with publicans Lisa and Anthony Robinson.
It has been a long journey since the fire in April 2017 and Lisa said one of the things she noticed most when locals gathered last week was people saying, “I haven’t seen you for ages.”
“It was a really emotional day. The town has desperately missed their pub.
“This is the social hub of the town. It wasn’t until it was gone that we realised what it meant to the community. People didn’t have anywhere to go.
“People walked in the door on Monday and they were excited and emotional. There were lots of tears…it was really special.
Lisa, who worked for Johnny for a number of years, inherited the hotel with Lauren Johnson, also a former staff member.
Lisa and her husband Anthony (Ock), a born and bred Thorpdale local, have taken on the business in what she admits has been an overwhelming couple of years.
“I am a primary school teacher and Ock is a truck driver. Now we are running a pub.
“We made the decision to have a crack and do it, but we’ve never even had our own business and we have two young kids as well,” she said.
The Thorpdale community is at the centre of their business focus.
“We had a group of local mates in here on Monday night that have all turned 18 since the pub closed. They have come back every night.
“I felt sorry for them because they haven’t ever had that local pub to meet at, but now they do,” she said.
After a crash course in pouring a beer, responsible serving of alcohol and liquor licensing courses, Anthony has now taken on the role of publican full time. Lisa will juggle part time teaching and the pub.
Rebuilding a major section of the building and refitting the hotel has been a long journey for the pub’ beneficiaries.
Lisa said there were lots of issues with asbestos in the roof that delayed works and then because the roof was open for so long, the top floor sustained extensive smoke and then water damage.
“If it wasn’t damaged by smoke, then water and mould caused damage.
“We’ve tried to keep it as much the same as it was…we just made it a little more practical where we could.
“Our thoughts right from the start were to get it open and rebuilt.
With the doors now open, Lisa is confident the pub will quickly return to being a community meeting place with the recreation reserve committee running raffles on Friday and Saturday nights, and other clubs and groups keen to support the hotel.
Lisa said the next hurdle will be to lease the kitchen to provide meals.
“We are excited to have it up and running for the town more than anything,” Lisa said.
But, she said, they also wanted to do it for Johnny. “He was a very generous man and treated me like a daughter. I always said I’d be there to help if he needed.”