Maroona Hotel saved after residents chip in to buy in

A town with no pub is almost as bad as a pub with no beer. Determined not to let it happen, 83 locals in a western Victorian town stepped in to save the local watering hole. Here’s how.

The Maroona Hotel's saviours: Richard Bibby, Dominique Sparks, Margaret Wilson, Kelly Gellie and Bruce McDougall Picture: Athos Sirianos

When the Maroona Hotel — about 20km south of Ararat — went up for sale last year, the town’s small but mighty population knew it was up to them to save it.

And save it they did.

Rather than seeing it sold off to out-of-towners or left to die like a long list of others nearby, Maroona’s 80 residents rallied, pulling together 83 shareholders to chip in to buy the pub which has served the community for nearly 90 years.

The hotel was put on the market by its owner Margaret Wilson who — after 20 years — had to step aside due to health reasons.

But she wasn’t going to sell it to just anyone.

Maroona Pub owner Margaret Wilson is relieved the pub she has run for 20 years will be in good hands. Picture: Athos Sirianos

“I had two or three very keen buyers but they wanted to purchase it for residence and I said ‘sorry, I’m not selling it as a residence it has to be sold as a hotel’,” she said.

“That was when the community said they wanted to buy it and it’s taken a little over 12 months but it’s happened.

“It’s amazing to see because once a license gets handed in you may not get it back or if you do it’s a lot of hard work.”

The Maroona Hotel will continue to run in all its glory under community management Picture: Athos Sirianos

The memories that stick out most for many who frequent this “old school country pub” were the kick locals would get whenever Ms Wilson told a barfly to “f—off”, something which has become synonymous with the venue.

So much so that it features on the pub’s About section online:

“Welcome to the Maroona Hotel. The pub where if you don’t like it, f—k off.”

The “bar rules” at the old school Maroona Hotel Picture: Athos Sirianos

Maroona local Bruce McDougall said residents did not want their watering hole to be added to the growing list of lost pubs in Victoria.

“When we did our research we found a lot of communities have regretted letting their pubs close because once you let it go it’s gone,” he said.

“But there’s been an enormous response from locals just wanting to keep it going

“It’s a hub, there’s not much else here. It’s a very big social environment, it’s probably saved a lot of marriages being open.

“A lot of people from the town and surrounds have invested and there a people from a long way as well, including someone I know in France.”

Locals will run the pub for about a month before renovations begin in July.

Rest assured, even with new workers behind bar, there will always be someone to tell you to “f—k off” if you ask nicely enough.

Originally published as Maroona Hotel saved after residents chip in to buy in