An Old Haunted Venue Is Up For Sale In Regional Victoria

An iconic pub/music venue is up for grabs in the small town of Meredith, Victoria. The Royal Hotel, is looking for new owners to continue on its important legacy. It's hosted a plethora of bands over the years including Thirsty Merc, Richard Clapton, Boom Crash Opera, Shannon Noll, The Chantoozies, Reece Mastin, Adam Brand, Daryl Braithwaite, Ross Wilson, Mental as Anything, Kate Ceberano and The Black Sorrows. Now, owners Damien and Claire Kelly are ready to pass the hosting baton to new owners. The pub, including an on-site four-bedroom house, is on the market with a $1.275m-$1.35m asking range. 

The Kelly's will celebrate a decade of owning the venue in December, which is quite the feat considering that they bought the pub on a whim. Originally both working at Target head office, the two decided their constant overseas travel took too much time away from their daughter, now aged 13. While Damien Kelly was on his way to a different job interview, he spotted the original 'For Sale' sign. 

“It was completely put of the blue, there was never any grand plan to run a hotel,” 

Located at 20 Wallace St near the Midland Highway between Ballarat and Geelong, the existing hotel is about 100 years old, but the pub was originally built as a three-storey structure during the 1850s-60s Victorian gold rush. It also burnt down in 1914, killing one of its employees, Zeo Lee, (reporters at the time used the name Kate Leahy) and now Claire Kelly is convinced that Lee sticks around. 

“My wife is convinced the place is haunted, she hears ghosts moving around and everything,” Kelly said.

“April marks the anniversary of her (Zeo’s) death, she usually makes a bit more noise then.”

The hotel’s cool room was used as a morgue during the gold rush.

Now, the pub is a beloved favourite of both locals and tourists, sitting just an hour and a half outside the centre of Melbourne. Set on 2043sq m, The Royal includes a large beer garden with covered music stage and outdoor bar service space, an outdoor deck, bar area with adjoining pool table room and TAB, dining room and commercial kitchen. 

Real-estate Agent and Buxton Geelong North director, Ben Riddle said he had received inquiries about the “classic country pub” from Melbourne buyers and Geelong publicans.

“You also get the dreamer element where people want to change lifestyles, live on-site and run their own business,” Mr Riddle said.

You can check out the listing here.