The future of the last pub standing in the once thriving Victorian gold rush town of Guildford is in doubt, as the Family Hotel succumbs to accumulated debt.
The frenetic Victorian gold rush ran throughout the 1850s and the stout two-storey pub was established in 1856, becoming one of dozens.
Toward the end of 2021 the operation was acquired by intrepid publican Megan Evans.
But struggling to sustain business in the small town, shortly before Christmas Evans, the operation’s sole director, submitted a financial report that the business owed around $300k to the tax man and an unspecified amount to her landlord.
Filing for insolvency, the business went into administration just prior to the festive break, with Worrells’ Nathan Deppeler appointed.
Guildford is found 127 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, and in its heyday is said to have boasted 22 pubs.
The Family Hotel sits on a corner of the well patronised Midland Highway, which runs through town.
It traded Wednesday to Sunday, and had earned a 4.6-star consumer rating during Evans’ tenure.
But the locality of 330 residents has become a town with no beer, forcing thirsty punters to travel two precincts to Campbells Creek to patronise a pub.
Evans lamented the outcome on social media and thanked her hard-working staff.
“Sadly due to circumstances beyond my control I have been forced to close the Guildford Family Hotel.
“Everyone knows how much I have loved running the pub and serving its customers, many of whom are now friends.”
