The Commercial Hotel Rappville closes doors after 113 years
A historical pub with plenty of character has closed its doors for possibly the final time as the publican fails to find a buyer worthy of the job.
Anyone looking for a beer will have to look a little further when visiting Rappville in the Northern Rivers as the town’s heritage-listed country pub called last drinks after 113 years.
The Commercial Hotel Rappville – about 80km north of Grafton – opened to the public for possibly the last time on Saturday after the beloved pub’s owners failed to find a buyer.
The pub has been on the market for $975,000 for several months and despite a few offers coming in, publican Lisa Stewart said she’d only sell to the right buyer.
“We will not sell to anyone who wishes to turn the hotel into a home,” Ms Stewart shared on social media last week after receiving an offer to buy the pub at her asking price.
“The hotel must be kept operational as a business in whatever capacity that may entail with licence attached.
“So please rest assured we will only sell if the hotel remains open for the village of Rappville and public.
“It is not always about money but preserving historical buildings and their life’s history, stories and purpose.”
Ms Stewart bought the regional pub, affectionately known as the Rappy, in 2020 after the town of Rappville experienced heartbreak following flooding.
But after put a lot of work into renovating the hotel facilities, she’s decided it’s time to move on and closed the doors for possibly the final time on Saturday
“The Rappy will be having last drinks and unfortunately after much hard work by our family, at this stage, the hotel will remain closed thereafter,” she said.
“We thank everyone for your encouragement, enthusiasm and support over the past almost five years for the Commercial Hotel Rappville.”
Ms Stewart said she hoped the right person will come along to reopen the pub and give the town a place to gather.
“There is potential and many ideas what can be done here with this historical beauty than close it permanently or renovate to someone’s grand home,” she said.
“Some of those ideas to bring business and people to the village is to house everything within the hotel and grounds – a cafe/fresh bakery perhaps where we had the dining, physio office, beauty therapist, gallery room.
“(There)’s plenty of ideas to keep the actual hotel alive. It is just not a good fit for us anymore that we don’t wish to pursue these ideas.
“We just hope whoever purchases loves the building as much as we do and she remains standing for many years.”
The pub first opened in 1911 and provided a spot for the timber workers, farmers and train passengers to have a drink and a decent feed for 113 years.
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