Meet the nominees for the Australian Hotels’ Association’s people’s choice awards
Welcome to the Gerogery Hotel, where the parmi variations – including emu – outnumber the town’s tiny population. The flourishing watering hole is in the running for the Australian Hotel Association’s people’s choice awards. Meet the other hopefuls.
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From the northern beaches to Bogan Gate, patrons across NSW are rallying behind their favourite pubs and casting their votes in the Australian Hotels’ Association people’s choice award.
Twelve finalists are vying to claim the coveted category, which was introduced last year, when more than 10,000 votes were cast and the Collie Hotel was crowned the winner.
The state’s favourite hole will be crowned at the gala awards event to be held at Randwick Racecourse on October 31.
AHA NSW chief executive John Whelan said it was great to see patrons getting behind their local pub and making their vote count.
“The introduction of this category last year proved incredibly popular – because people
are extremely passionate about their local pub,” he said.
Cast your vote here before 11.59pm on Friday September 29.
Gerogery Hotel
Welcome to Gerogery: Twenty minutes north of Albury. Population 100. Parmi variations: 106.
That’s right, the parmi sizes and flavours outweigh the tiny population.
Toppings include classics alongside emu farmed from The Rock at Wagga, lamb kebab and cheeseburger flavours.
Publican of two years Norm Carl likens the taste of emu to beef and is proud of the huge menu at the pub, which has been nominated for the Australian Hotel Association’s people’s choice award.
Each week the kitchen produces 500 dishes but the town doesn’t just punch above its weight in the kitchen.
Carl is passionate about Gerogery and the charming 19th century watering hole, which employs 14 staff.
Patrons descend on the pub for sheep shearing, barbecue smoking competitions, children’s Christmas parties, woodchopping gatherings and monthly markets.
“We see ourselves as part of the community,’’ Carl said.
“It’s not about the drinking culture, it’s a place where families can come and enjoy ourselves.’’
Unlike other AHA categories that require nominees to pay a fee to nominate in a category, the people’s choice category relies on customers’ votes.
It’s the second year Gerogery has been nominated after it placed second in the inaugural competition last year.
Fans were allowed to cast unlimited votes last year but despite new rules only allowing one vote per customer this year, the loyal Gerogery supporter base has ensured their pub is one of 12 finalists in the running for the people’s choice gong.
“We’re really excited about the people’s choice because it’s the word of our patrons and ultimately that’s what matters to us,’’ Carl said.
“I’d implore people to go to the little country pubs – especially the ones without pokies – because you get your families having a meal.
“This is a great part of the world.’’
2 Main St Gerogery
Banjo Paterson Inn, Jindabyne
As the only alpine venue in the people’s choice category, the team at Banjo Paterson Inn believes its popularity as a winter destination has made folk from all walks of life cast their vote for the AHA awards.
Hotel duty manager Jorja Wilson said the venue welcomed a cross section of visitors from “families to couples to boys’ trips to girls’ trips away’’ at the split-level inn.
“It’s pretty much one of those one-stop shops and everyone can come on down and have a great time,’’ she said.
When it’s time to uncurl the muscles after a day hitting the slopes, guests at the Harris and Narvo Hotels-run venue have a choice of dining at Clancy’s Brasserie or The Overflow Pizza Burger Bar, while others can lounge about in the cocktail space or enjoy a tipple in one of three bars.
DJs and musicians deliver entertainment and when it comes to slumber, many visitors retreat to the boutique accommodation Banjo’s Rest on site.
1 Kosciuszko Rd, Jindabyne
Bogan Gate Pub, Bogan Gate
It’s a sad day when a town loses its pub but fortunately that tragedy was averted three years ago when Neil Schembri bought the Bogan Gate Pub.
The former Better Grow Fertiliser owner, who has since sold the business, was familiar with the town and wanted to ensure its pub survived.
Kerrie-anne and Chris Schembri (no relation) have run the pub since January and ensure the locals, including farmers enduring droughts, have a place to unite.
“It’s getting grim out there now,’’ she said.
“They’re all worried about rain and they need somewhere to go.
“I remember growing up and farmers coming into Dad’s pub when it was hard and tough, and having someone to talk to about it, have a beer and sit back. It just sort of made things better, having somewhere to go so I didn’t want to see it shut.’’
She credits the former fertiliser boss for reviving what is a landmark in the town.
“We’re only a population of 200 people so losing the pub would have been a big thing,’’ she said.
“Several managers across the years couldn’t get it going how they wanted – it had lots of issues, like it was run down, lots of repairs and maintenance needed to be done.’’
The pub shut for renovations in April and reopened in October.
“The beer garden was just grass – he’s redeveloped the whole thing and it’s got pavers – it’s got beautiful, really long timber tables,’’ Schembri said.
The interior transformation includes a bigger, renovated kitchen helmed by Denise Dwyer.
“Our cook is amazing, the food is fantastic, they come out fast, they’re a good pub-style meal,’’ Schembri said.
“We have one cook and, for example, on Father’s Day, she pumped out 230 meals by herself in three hours.’’
Patrons travel from other regions for Bogan Gate Pub’s warm welcome.
“We get a lot of customers from a lot of different places so our stubby holders’ slogan is ‘All roads lead to Bogan Gate’ and that’s because we get a lot of a following from Parkes, Forbes, Trundle, Bedgerabong, the local areas around Tottenham … and we actually put on courtesy buses to help them get to and from there,’’ Schembri said.
The AHA nomination means even more given the tough times.
“Locally at the moment our small communities are losing everything,’’ she said.
“If you look at all these country towns, all businesses are going so I didn’t want to see them lose the pub.’’
45-47 Station St, Bogan Gate
Bull and Bush Hotel, Medowie
Management only took over this Port Stephens pub in July but it didn’t take long to build a rapport with their patrons.
“They’re legends,’’ licensee Nathan Trotter said.
“I’ve actually never met a community like Medowie. They support the pub, they support everything we do.
“Being a close-knit community, there’s not a massive place – everyone’s mates with everyone and it’s a really local vibe here.’’
Pub baron Nick Quinn reportedly bought the Bull and Bush Hotel for almost $30m in May and now the pub, which includes a motel and bottle shop, will be refurbished.
The main drawcards will be a beer garden and children’s playground to make it a more family-friendly venue.
Trotter said despite being the only pub in Medowie, the renovations were important to help it keep up to date.
“It’s only a 10-minute drive to Raymond Terrace, which is the other pub with the big playground so it’s giving Medowie people the offering here in Medowie and not have to make them travel somewhere else,’’ he said.
“It’s a one-pub town and the locals love the pub so they get amongst it and get on board with everything we do, which is really good.’’
37 Ferodale Rd, Medowie
Camellia Hotel, Rosehill
Just two years young, the Camellia Hotel is perched opposite Rosehill Gardens and makes the most of its location on race days.
The TAB comes in handy but visitors also flock for a decent meal and drinks in the chic cabanas in the alfresco dining area or inside.
“Instead of a signature dish, we do a signature cocktail,’’ licensee Andrew Do said.
“It’s our top seller.’’
The beverage is a mix of vodka, lychees, strawberries, strawberry syrup, aloe vera and cloudy apple.
Whether it’s racegoers or the general public, Do said the hotel has fast gained a legion of fans.
“I think it’s because we take pride in customer service but we’re also a family-friendly venue and I think it’s something new for the area across the road from Rosehill Gardens,’’ he said.
“There’s good food, good vibes and it’s family friendly.’’
The venue has capacity for 400 people and is especially packed on race days such as the Golden Slipper and Golden Eagle.
When the racetrack is quiet, the pub is still hot to trot, with patrons visiting to feast on bistro fare and beverages.
132 James Ruse Drive Rosehill
Coachman Hotel Motel, Parkes
Tony Todd and Terrie Clark can thank Elvis for helping their pub’s popularity.
A throng of voters who have backed the pub and motel for the AHA people’s choice category are fans of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and stay at the Coachman’s 36-room motel for the annual Parkes Elvis Festival.
It’s there they receive a warm welcome from pub staff.
“We’ve worked hard to get the right staff here and the people who walk in here get treated in the same, friendly manner,’’ Todd said.
“People often comment it’s just a nice place to sit, there’s no trouble, no drama.’’
The Coachman is excited about its first AHA nomination.
“There’s only 12 pubs in it and I think that’s a pretty big achievement,’’ Todd said.
He and Clark started managing the Coachman four years ago when they relocated from a town near Tamworth.
Todd, a former financial controller, joined forces with Clark’s experience to make the Coachman even more well-loved in the town.
“Terrie and I have been able to build this pub up together and we’ve taken to it straight away,’’ he said.
“There’s a lot less stress doing this job and you have a lot more fun than you would sitting behind a computer doing people’s accounts.’’
The business is the major sponsor for Parkes’ rugby league, rugby union, soccer and hockey teams, and is also building a reputation for signature steaks thanks to head chef Christine Lloyd.
“We’ve turned around the reputation of the kitchen so we’ve almost doubled our takings in the kitchen over the past 12 months,’’ Todd said.
White Elvis jumpsuit or not, the Coachman is waiting to greet you.
“The thing about Parkes is the people are so good here,’’ Todd said.
“If no one’s been to Parkes, make sure you get here.’’
48-54 Welcome St, Parkes
Cooee Hotel, St Georges Basin
The beloved watering hole, which is in the running for the AHA’s people choice and casual dining awards, has won a wave of support beyond its local community on the south coast.
“We often get people from Sydney say ‘we can’t find a pub like this in city areas’,’’ Cooee Hotel manager Jane Tucker said.
“It’s that really small town hospitality.’’
Like many regional areas, pubs are the epicentre of community life and patronage soars during summer holidays when hordes of tourists visit Jervis Bay and Hyams Beach.
When the holidaymakers decamp back to Sydney, the Cooee is still the heart of the town.
“Our customers really are the bones of our hotel,’’ Tucker said.
“It’s their hotel as much as anyone’s hotel. They have pride in the place and they support us 110 per cent.’’
Cooee still traded through the catastrophic bushfires when many headed there to socialise and others to take comfort in some of the impressive dishes delivered by head chef Michelle Lorenzo and her team.
“I’ve got the best head chef on the south coast,’’ Tucker said.
“She absolutely puts her passion into everything at the hotel. Everything she puts out is like she’s serving for one of her friends or one of her family. She takes pride in everything she does.’’
Tucker nominates the creamy garlic prawns – served by itself or on steak – as Lorenzo’s best dish.
126 Island Point Rd, St Georges Basin
Lakeside Village Tavern, Raymond Terrace
A $3.5m refurbishment to the O’Hara Group’s Lakeside Tavern has transformed the digs into a more family-friendly environment with a playground and sheltered beer garden among the drawcards.
Last year’s expansion meant the tavern’s capacity swelled from 110 to 360 patrons.
“In that year we’ve had so much happen like renovations and our customer base has improved 10-fold,’’ bar manager Zayne Rowbottom said.
“O’Hara definitely improved it more than anyone thought possible. It wasn’t a terrible place to be before. There were families but it was definitely for the weekend groups and it could get a bit rowdy.’’
A fireplace and large TV have been added to the spruce-up and the culinary offerings have also enticed food lovers from the east coast.
“It’s gone from having a bistro that was relatively small to having a bistro that’s pulling in so many more customers – all sorts of people,’’ Rowbottom said.
“We’ve had people from Coffs Harbour and the Central Coast.’’
Head chef Carlo Biasutti’s team offers a host of thrifty specials including schnitzel, steak, pizza and pasta themes on week nights.
74 Benjamin Lee Drive, Raymond Terrace
Lawrence Tavern, Lawrence
Lawrence Tavern does a roaring trade and it was even more loved during Covid lockdown when the kitchen would belt out hundreds of takeaway meals.
“It was hard but we probably made the best of the situation because we had locals’ support,’’ licensee Rebecca Alford said.
Alford and her business partner Luke Many bought the riverside venue in October 2019, just months before the business was forced to adjust to pandemic rules.
“We did a $12 schnitzel and we were doing up to 200 meals (on a Thursday night) so the locals were a big part of our success,’’ she said.
Alford is well versed on pub hospitality and grew up in her family’s pub at Maclean, where Many also worked.
She said patrons were propelled to support Lawrence Tavern in the people’s choice category for “our food, our reputation, the service’’.
That includes its specialty dishes of baked chicken topped with bacon, prawns and avocado or camembert, and seafood crepes.
Changes in the pipeline include a large deck, an expanded kitchen and a 30-space carpark.
19 Bridge St, Lawrence
The Bradford Hotel, Rutherford
Licensee Neil Hedges jokes he has created a monster at the Bradford Hotel.
“I’ve created a beast. It’s a monster of a hotel on the weekends,’’ he said.
Established in 2007, the pub has grown to cater for its burgeoning community.
“This side of town’s growing so Maitland’s one of the fastest growing towns in NSW so the pub’s doubled in size probably in the last five years,’’ Hedges said.
“The O’Hara group kind of developed a niche market for family hotels. We’ve changed the image for hotels from being tough front bars, from being counter meals to actually running bistros, and putting kids’ playgrounds in, family functions so we’ve got our own kind of philosophy.’’
The Bradford is also on the frontline of community life.
“Our motto is locals supporting locals and when people need a hand in the community we jump in and help them when we can so we’re not just a normal hotel, we’re a family hotel,’’ Hedges said.
He grew up in the area and has a special affinity with the pub.
“This one’s my little baby,’’ he said.
“I reckon they’ll wheel me out of this hotel one day.’’
358 New England Highway, Rutherford
The Fiddler Rouse Hill
The vast venue has been nominated for a swag of awards including the metropolitan hotel of the year but it’s the people’s choice has the 250-plus staff of the 197-year-old venue over the moon.
“That’s a popular reflection of how we can run the business and what we promote,’’ marketing manager Jo-Anne Saliba said.
“They’re our clientele, to us that’s what drives us.’’
The Lewis Leisure-operated venue features a wine and beer garden and traditional Irish bar among its spaces.
“I think we’re always evolving, we’re unique, very diverse,’’ Saliba said.
“We have nine different bars and it’s always a different experience when they come to The Fiddler. We’ve always got something going on.’’
Previously notorious for its rowdiness, the watering hole switched names from The Mean Fiddler to The Fiddler 10 years ago and has become more family oriented.
“Our venue’s one of the largest venues in NSW and the capability allows customers to roam the venue. It’s almost like the Grounds of The Fiddler,’’ Saliba said.
Corner of Commercial and Windsor roads, Rouse Hill
Wharf Bar, Manly
For many beachgoers alighting from the iconic Manly ferry via Circular Quay, the Wharf Bar is the first venue they see and its loyal patrons range from locals to tourists.
It’s a group marketing manager Amanda Wickenden says the venue has executed well but still manages to keep the venue community oriented.
“We do try to please all our locals and our tourists,’’ she said.
The northern beaches hot spot is a hub for music, meals and cocktails.
Wickenden, who has also been nominated for an AHA marketing category, credits the Mexican-inspired bottomless brunch for pulling even more visitors keen to sample the dishes made famous on social media.
There’s salmon ceviche and chorizo with a caramelised tequila sauce, which “is to die for”.
“It works amazingly,’’ Wickenden said.
“People are shocked by it but it’s a great hit.’’
For staff who are committed to making sure their guests leave with good memories, the people’s choice award is a big thrill for the Wharf Bar.
“Obviously the recognition is amazing and it’s something our team deserves,’’ Wickenden said.
“We have a young staff but they’re absolutely killing it with what they do.’’
East Esplanade, Manly
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