An aviator walked into a bar, bought it, and installed a new lived-in look to accompany the kitsch community of Kaniva.
Lurking around 420 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, in a Victorian border town, the Commercial Hotel in Kaniva is a two-storey brick pub, built 1928. There has been a hotel on the site since 1888.
The Interwar-style building provides front public bar, a ‘ballroom’ for functions, and upstairs accommodation.
It is also home, inside and out, to an extraordinary collection of pop culture memorabilia – foretold by Jake and Elwood Blues (the Blues Brothers) lounging on the balcony over the front entrance.
Bob Cane worked a quarter-century career in Aviation, and in his spare time sought and bought interesting paraphernalia from “anywhere and everywhere”.
During domestic travels in 2021, Cane stopped into the pub. He had long suspected hotel ownership could be in his future, and mentioned his quest to the barman, who was in fact the proprietor and replied that he had just made the decision to list it for sale.
Cane bought it, making the move from Cairns to begin operations, amid a hopscotch of pandemic lockdowns.
The town made the news during the crisis as the closest location South Australians could find to home, while the border was closed. Cane allowed many in limbo to station at the rear of the pub and use the amenities, as the bar remained forcibly closed and no-one could move freely.
Before his time, the Commercial was a non-descript country pub for anyone. But in a startlingly short time it has become a shrine to bric-a-brac and objects of interest ranging from hickory golf clubs to vintage Coke signs. In short, it is somewhere for Cane to display everything he finds.
Found on the Victoria-South Australian border, roughly midway between Melbourne and Adelaide, Kaniva is no stranger to the odd; home to around 800 residents, parks, wetlands, and a posse of brightly-coloured statuesque sheep perpetually grazing on the public grasses.
Having beautified virtually every square inch of wall space in the pub, Cane has almost finished readying the nine guest rooms, vanguarded by prize “critters” that reside on the upstairs balcony.
Looking ahead to the existential milestone to take place in 2028, the proud publican says there “will be a big celebration” for the pub’s centenary.
