Car hits historic Smeaton pub after two-vehicle collision outside
Publicans James and Caleb Consiglio say the damage done to their hotel by a car crashing into it will set them back tens of thousands of dollars.
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The damage done to an historic regional pub when a car hit it on Tuesday morning could cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair.
Two vehicles, a hatchback and a ute, collided at the intersection of Creswick-Newstead Rd and Daylesford-Clunes Rd in Smeaton, north of Ballarat, about 11.20am.
The ute then veered into the veranda of the nearby Cumberland Hotel.
Publicans James and Caleb Consiglio said the damage was “substantial” and mending it might set them back at least $80,000.
The pair took over the pub only four months ago, re-opening it with a renovated interior and new menu.
“It’s a 161-year-old building that’s not used to having cars driven through it,” they said.
“It’s all heritage-listed. There’s cracks on the inside apparently. The concrete’s damaged out the front.”
The Consiglios said they were “incredibly disappointed” in the lack of care for people’s safety.
“Imagine if we had patrons out the front,” they said.
“There are so many what-ifs.”
The Cumberland will remain closed until the area is deemed safe.
The driver of the hatchback, a man from Croydon, was taken to Ballarat Base Hospital in a stable condition with upper body injuries.
The female driver of the ute was uninjured.
Police investigations continue.
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