The future of Burrumbuttock’s historic Farmer’s Inn Hotel has been thrown into doubt, with owners Jase Hounsell and April Hill announcing they are closing the venue less than two years after taking over the business.
In a statement posted to the hotel’s Facebook page on Tuesday, 23 June, the couple confirmed the pub would cease trading indefinitely.
“After a lot of thought, we’ve made the difficult decision to close the doors at The Farmer’s Inn Hotel until further notice,” they wrote.
“We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us, called in for a drink, shared a meal, came to an event, had a laugh at the bar or simply made this place what it has been.”
Jase, widely recognised as the longtime owner of Jase & Co Mobile Coffee, officially purchased the iconic country hotel with partner April on 27 May 2024. They arrived with ambitious plans to breathe new life into the 144-year-old pub and re-establish it as a welcoming community hub.
When they took the keys, the pair spoke enthusiastically about creating a traditional, family-friendly country hotel with strong local backing.
They were already familiar faces across the region. Their Jase & Co Mobile Coffee van had built a loyal local following.
Before launching the mobile business, Jase founded the popular Mugachino drive-through coffee outlet in Lavington in 2011, later selling the business in 2020 after nearly a decade of success.
After relocating to Burrumbuttock, the couple began the enormous task of restoring the ageing hotel. They acknowledged early on that the project was far bigger than anticipated, describing the condition of the premises as requiring significantly more work than expected.
Despite the challenge, they invested heavily in improving the venue, refreshing the bar, establishing a beer garden and expanding the food offering with classic pub favourites alongside Jase’s signature smoked meat dishes.
The first indication that the business was under strain came on 8 June, when the publicans announced the kitchen would close temporarily. In a message to patrons, they said the decision had been driven by escalating operating costs combined with a slowdown in trade.
“This decision has not been made lightly, but it is necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of our business,” they wrote at the time.
The closure comes as many small businesses across Australia, particularly in the hospitality sector, continue to warn that escalating operating costs, shrinking profit margins and increasing regulatory pressures are making it increasingly difficult to remain viable.
In their latest message, the couple thanked their community for their support.
“When we made the heartbreaking decision to close the doors of the pub, we shared it ourselves because we wanted our community to hear it from us. It wasn’t easy. It was one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever had to make,” they said on a 27 June Facebook post.
With words that many other publicans can relate to, they spoke of their struggle.
“What many people don’t know is that we didn’t just give up,” they said.
“We fought for this place.”
In a poignant closing message, they encouraged readers to respond with kindness, noting that behind every business and every news story are people doing their best despite unseen challenges.
“Kindness doesn’t cost a thing – but to someone who’s struggling, it can mean absolutely everything.”
