Exhausted Bendigo publicans sell up en mass after lockdowns and Commonwealth Games scars take their toll

Eleven pubs have gone under the hammer across Bendigo as pandemic-exhausted publicans sell up en mass. See what’s next for Bendigo’s pub scene.

More than ten pubs are on the market in Bendigo after pandemic-exhausted publicans sell up en mass.

Eleven pubs are under the hammer across Bendigo, as exhausted publicans throw in the towel in the wake of post-pandemic burn out.

The Belmont Hotel, the Hibernian, the Goldmines Hotel, the Brougham Arms, the Kangaroo Flat Hotel, The Bridge Hotel, the White Horse Hotel, the Court House Hotel have hit the market.

Just outside of Bendigo, the Braidies Tavern and Bar in Strathfieldsaye, the Railway Hotel in Elmore, the Marong Family Hotel are also up for grabs.

The hotel broker handling the sale of The Bridge Hotel, Leisa Wheatland, said the state government-imposed lockdowns left publicans feeling “beaten down”.

The Bendigo Bridge Hotel. Picture: McCormick & Co.

“A lot of people are tired after covid,” she said.

A former Hotelier and publican, Ms Wheatland sold the Toorak Hotel in 2023 after running the iconic pub for years.

“Post covid it’s not like its opening the doors and things are back to normal,” she said,

“When covid unlocked, it wasn’t the case for us (publicans). It was back to full rent with restrictions.”

The majority of the Bendigo pubs on the market are now trading well and turning a profit once more after clawing their businesses back from the dereliction of Victoria’s lockdowns that decimated the hospitality industry.

Bendigo Hibernian Hotel is on sale for $1.7m. Picture: CRE Brokers.

But the experience has left publicans burned out, with the owner of The Bridge Hotel on the corner of Bridge and Water streets placing the business into voluntary administration after deciding on a lifestyle change.

After successfully running the business for a number of years, the pandemic lockdowns and restrictions beat him down, which was only compounded by the cancelled Commonwealth Games that were slated to come to Bendigo in 2026.

Investing significant capital to renovate the hotel ahead of the games in preparation for the lawn bowls to be held just down the road at the Bendigo Bowls Club, when the games were cancelled it was the final nail in the coffin.

The White Horse Hotel Bendigo. Picture: CRE Brokers.

With the business still trading strongly, reporting an income of $1.8 last financial year and $1.3 in the 2024 financial year to date, brokers have flagged a ray of hope for Bendigo’s beleaguered hospitality industry.

With all the pubs on sale Ms Wheatland said it’s a buyers market, with “dozens of investors” have put their hats in the ring.

Phil Mammolito, director at CRE Brokers, who is handling the sale of the Hibernian and White Horse hotels agreed that there was no shortage of enterprising men and women lining up to take the reins.

“It really is a new generation of publicans coming through,” he said.

“It’s exciting to see what the next generation will do.”