Diggers Rest Hotel demolition taken off the table

OWNERS of Diggers Rest’s burnt out pub are hopeful that one day they will rebuild.

The Historical Diggers Rest Hotel built in the 1800's has been guttered by a fire, authorities believe the fire my be deliberate.

OWNERS of Diggers Rest’s burnt out pub are hopeful that one day they will rebuild.

An application by the pub’s owners to have the historic hotel demolished was withdrawn at a Melton Council meeting.

The decision by the owners not to pursue the pub’s demolition has drawn mixed reactions from the community, who have lived with the eyesore since it was destroyed by fire in 2008.

Pub co-owner Roger Smith said withdrawing the application was the most appropriate thing to do.

He said discussions with insurance companies were continuing and reiterated there was still hope to rebuild the hotel.

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The council received 64 joint letters of support to tear down the charred remains, and three submissions objecting to the demolition.

One of those objections came from the Diggers Rest Residents Association. President Bob Rau said he was happy the application was withdrawn.

Mr Rau said it has been the position of the association since the beginning that the hotel be rebuilt, using some of the historic remains.

“I believe that the older section of the building is worthy of preservation and in an ideal world the hotel will be rebuilt, using these remains,” he said.

But resident Kim Davis said the pub needed to be demolished as soon as possible.

“Imagine yourselves driving past this ruin every day to and from work.

“And ask yourselves is this what you want to greet and farewell every resident or guest to our town?” she said.

Resident Alan Osgood said if the pub was in the centre of Melton it would have been pulled down “as soon as the arson squad left”.

“There are sales offices up the road from this eyesore trying to sell Diggers Rest as being one of the up and coming estates.

“So tell me, why would you want to invest your hard-earned money here?” he said.

Mr Osgood said it seemed a “few country folk rule and the Melton Council crumbles to their wants”.

“But sadly they don’t speak for myself and others in this town.”