Historic Kevington Hotel in Victoria for sale

IT MIGHT be a long way from the bright lights of New York, London and Tokyo, but there is one thing the small town of Kevington has in common with the big cities.

Small town fame: Wayne Poole is about to sell the historic Kevington Hotel. Picture: Dannika Bonser

IT MIGHT be a long way from the bright lights of New York, London and Tokyo, but there is one thing the small town of Kevington has in common with the big cities.

They all have a Hilton hotel.

The historic Kevington Hotel in North East Victoria was given the nickname the Kevington Hilton after a visit from one of the family members of the famous Hilton hotel empire, current owner Wayne Poole said. “I believe in the early ’60s one of the Hilton family visited the area while they were building their hotels in Melbourne,” Wayne said.

“They hit it off with my grandfather (who was the owner at the time). They had a few drinks and on the Sunday morning he christened it the Kevington Hilton.

“That was the story I was told as a young fella.”

Clarry Poole outside the Kevington Hotel, nicknamed the Kevington Hilton.

Wanye Poole is about to sell the historic Kevington Hotel. Picture: Dannika Bonser

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The hotel was built in the 1860s during the gold rush era and over the years has played host to various famous visitors.

One of the biggest nights was about five years ago when 300 people filled the hotel to see Daddy Cool perform.

Local folklore also suggests the hotel was a watering hole of Ned Kelly and his gang in the late 1800s.

The hotel has been a treasured part of Wayne’s family since 1957, when his grandparents Clarrie and Elsie bought it.

It was sold out of the family in 1986, before Wayne and his wife Lyn-Maree bought it back in 2007.

They have refurbished the hotel and it is now ready for new owners to take it to the next level, Mr Poole said.

The hotel will be auctioned on-site on April 27.