Buchan Pub soon to reopen thanks to crowd-funding campaign

A COUNTRY town has raised $605,146 through a crowd-funding campaign after their local pub burnt down almost two years ago.

***WEEKLY TIMES USE ONLY*** For Country Living: The new Buchan Pub is taking shape, after the old one burnt down in 2014. Former publican and local plumber Greg Brick will manage the pub when it reopens. Picture: LAURA FERGUSON

IT HAS been a long time between drinks for Buchan residents.

Since the town’s historic pub burnt down due to an electrical fault almost two years ago, locals have been working up a thirst.

But, thanks to a crowd-funding campaign that saw locals raise $605,146, the Buchan Caves Hotel could reopen as early as June, according to owner Greg Brick.

“We’ve put the roof on and the cladding ... and have just finished putting on the decking for the veranda,” Greg says.

“This is all about the town and the support the town has given to it. It’s not about me or any individual; it’s been an amazing community effort.”

Greg says when the pub was razed by fire he did not think it would be rebuilt.

Past glory: The Buchan Caves Hotel has a long history in the East Gippsland town.

However, when a community meeting “unanimously” called for a new pub, which was followed by the generosity of the 1694 people and businesses who contributed to the crowd-funding, he dedicated himself to the rebuild.

“I really didn’t think it was going to happen. It shows it’s amazing what people can do,” says Greg, who runs a 160ha sheep and cattle property as well as Buchan Valley Plumbing.

“It was the social hub of the area, a contact point for a lot of people and to a certain extent the town died when the pub burnt down. It’s been a sad old town since.

“Some people I’ve seen very little of since it burnt down.”

Like the previous building, the new pub is weatherboard with gables, but this time has a large veranda and, because “old habits die hard in country towns”, Greg says they will continue to serve the town’s favourite brew — Carlton Draught — on tap.

Business as usual: A picture of the Buchan Caves Hotel taken in October 2013, six months before the fire. Picture: Jason Edwards

Up in flames: Fire razed the pub in April 2014 following an electrical fault. Picture: Rhonda Coates

Aftermath: The extent of the destruction inspired Buchan locals to crowd-fund the money to rebuild the pub — the lifeblood of their community. Picture: Rhonda Coates

Greg and his wife, Marg, bought the pub in 2007 then sold it to a conglomerate in 2013, keeping a small shareholding.

When it burnt down, the conglomerate decided not to reinvest and the Bricks retook ownership.

The couple has invested about $400,000 in the new pub and, under the crowd-funding agreement, if sold — although Greg says there are no plans to do so — the Bricks would receive their share of the sale.

Under the crowd-funding agreement, pub profits will go back into the town, including the footy club, bush nursing, Country Fire Authority and school.

Greg says while the pub could reopen as early as late June, there was no rush with the build.

“We just want to be open in time for the Mountain Cattlemen’s annual get-together in January 2017, which they will hold in Buchan because of the pub fire.”