The historic Rintoule’s Union Hotel of Nhill is being sold by long-time devotee owner Mick Jesic.
Beginning life in 1879 as a wooden structure in Kiata, 20 kilometres south-east, the pub was transported to Nhill in 1881, where it was bought by the Rintoule family for £50.
The two-storey brick building of today was built in 1910, bearing the Rintoule name, with an impressive second floor iron balustrade facing streetside.
A thriving country establishment, the hotel boasted parking for 250 buggies and stalls for 100 horses. It also housed the local doctor’s surgery, which is commemorated with a plaque.
For a time during the Twentieth Century it was one of Victoria’s top pubs, paying the highest licensing fee in the state.
Mick Jesic previously owned the Union Hotel in Brunswick, and purchased the Nhill namesake around 14 years ago, hoping to ease into retirement.
Since then he has made substantial upgrades, including consolidating some of the accommodation rooms to make for 13 larger offerings with ensuites, including a honeymoon suite boasting a spa. There are five further guest rooms with shared amenities, and a manager’s residence.
The pub also offers a public bar, bistro and renovated commercial kitchen and refurbished indoor and outdoor dining spaces, function room, and bottleshop, on a 3334sqm lot, which also hosts a laundromat.
The rooms are a particular focus of the elegant country hotel, often praised by those who stay, such as a prior guest, former Richmond player, coach and Hall of Famer Tom Hafey, who reportedly said “I have never had accommodation like this”.
Nhill is a town of around 2,000 residents – on the A8, almost exactly halfway between Melbourne, 382 kilometres south-east and Adelaide, 354 kilometres north-west.
The freehold going concern of the Union Hotel is being sold through Westech Real Estate’s Joanne Perkins.
Interest is anticipated from loving locals as well as the hordes of opportunity-hungry hoteliers perusing the national landscape.
Early indications suggest the destination pub could sell for north of $1.3 million.
