This town's ‘bottom pub' is back open with big '70s energy and a committed young crew
Known as the 'bottom pub', the two-storey venue three hours from Melbourne closed in September and had been untouched for more than 30 years, according to new owner Dale Kemp.
In the four-month restoration, fake indoor plants were ditched – part of eight skips of rubbish cleared out – and black and grey paint was replaced with brown and cream. Green tartan carpet and amber bullion glass panels that channel the 1970s complete the cosy new look.
'It's really important when you walk into a pub, that you feel almost like you're at home,' Kemp says. 'The fire is going, you can hang out with friends, and have a conversation with the person behind the bar.'

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The Advertiser
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Advertisements featuring Chinese actor Yosh Yu, Ms Lawson and Japanese comedian Abareru-kun will air in their home countries, while Steve Irwin's son will become the face of the American campaign and wellness advocate Sara Tendulkar will star in ads broadcast in India. This $130 million push builds on Tourism Australia's Come and Say G'day campaign, which launched the lovable animated mascot Ruby the Roo. "Traditionally tourism campaigns have leveraged one famous face across every market but for our latest campaign Ruby will be joined by well-known talent from five different markets to showcase personal lasting memories of a holiday to Australia," Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison said. "These international stars combine with local talent ... to create bespoke invitations for five markets." Since the resumption of international travel, the domestic tourism industry has grown with the number of international arrivals expected to reach a record 10 million in 2026 and 11.8 million in 2029. More than 700,000 jobs and 360,000 Australian businesses depend on tourism. The teaser for this campaign was first launched in July during the prime minister's trip to China. Chinese travellers remain Australia's second biggest cohort of tourists behind New Zealand, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. "Tourism is the lifeblood of so many communities right around the country and creates hundreds of thousands of jobs," Tourism Minister Don Farrell said. "The previous campaign struck a chord with visitors, with Ruby the Roo bounding into the imagination of countless guests, encouraging them to book a holiday down under. "I know this iteration, featuring popular talent like Robert Irwin, will be a smash." 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Advertisements featuring Chinese actor Yosh Yu, Ms Lawson and Japanese comedian Abareru-kun will air in their home countries, while Steve Irwin's son will become the face of the American campaign and wellness advocate Sara Tendulkar will star in ads broadcast in India. This $130 million push builds on Tourism Australia's Come and Say G'day campaign, which launched the lovable animated mascot Ruby the Roo. "Traditionally tourism campaigns have leveraged one famous face across every market but for our latest campaign Ruby will be joined by well-known talent from five different markets to showcase personal lasting memories of a holiday to Australia," Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison said. "These international stars combine with local talent ... to create bespoke invitations for five markets." Since the resumption of international travel, the domestic tourism industry has grown with the number of international arrivals expected to reach a record 10 million in 2026 and 11.8 million in 2029. More than 700,000 jobs and 360,000 Australian businesses depend on tourism. The teaser for this campaign was first launched in July during the prime minister's trip to China. Chinese travellers remain Australia's second biggest cohort of tourists behind New Zealand, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. "Tourism is the lifeblood of so many communities right around the country and creates hundreds of thousands of jobs," Tourism Minister Don Farrell said. "The previous campaign struck a chord with visitors, with Ruby the Roo bounding into the imagination of countless guests, encouraging them to book a holiday down under. "I know this iteration, featuring popular talent like Robert Irwin, will be a smash." 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