The George IV Inn at Picton will go to auction on May 31

Picton’s historic George IV Inn is set to change hands when it goes up for auction at the end of the month.

Picton’s George IV three months on from the storms. Picture: Jenny Evans

• Insurance troubles keep Inn closed
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Picton’s historic George IV Inn is set to change hands when it goes up for auction at the end of the month.

The pub, which was extensively damaged in the storms that smashed the small town in June last year, is open to a public auction at 10am on May 31 in Sydney.

A long-running dispute between the pub’s owner Patrick Moloney and insurer Assetinsure led to Mr Moloney publicly declaring the George would be sold several weeks ago.

The George is described by real estate agents Ray White Hotels as being the second oldest continually licensed hotel in NSW, built in 1835, and located next to a new urban growth corridor inside the Sydney commuter belt with 30,000 new homes expected in the region over the coming years.

Staff and volunteers after cleaning up the George IV Inn in the days following the storm. Picture: Phillip Rogers

Included in the sale is the 0.7ha of land the George is situated on as well as its nine poker machines, micro brewing facilities and accommodation room as well as a rustic sandstone barn which is reportedly older than the pub itself and has been converted into a bar and function room.

Ray White Hotels agent Blake Edwards said the venue would be suitable for a range of uses.

“Applications could potentially include a gastropub with gaming, paddock to plate restaurant, wedding and function centre or boutique accommodation,” he said.

“You could count on one hand the amount of properties sold each year in Australia which have as much historic significance as this asset”

George IV Inn manager Peta Cohen in the devastated restaurant area the day after the storms. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

The George IV Inn will go up for auction at 10am on May 31 at level 17, 135 King St, Sydney.