Venturoni family to sell Gellibrand River Hotel for $1.2m-plus

After three years of ownership and a suite of renovations, a local family is selling their historic pub with a seven-figure price tag.

For more than 120 years the Gellibrand River Hotel has served the Otways region with locals and weary travellers calling in for a drink or a counter meal.

The pub is located 20 minutes south of Colac, in the thick bushland of Victoria’s southwest and is equally close to the Great Ocean Road.

Despite its standing as one of the most popular pubs in the region, the Gellibrand River Hotel has been trying to find its feet.

In 2019 the Venturoni family purchased the pub after it had been closed for around 18 months prior to the sale.

But after around three years of local ownership the family are selling up with a price tag of at least $1.2m-plus listed for the century-old pub.

Owner Kellie Venturoni said the pub was a popular stop for many locals and tourists and was hoping new owners could finish the work her family started.

The Gellibrand River Hotel has been listed for sale

“If only the walls could talk I think this place would have some stories to tell,” she said.

“It is a little goldmine with the right publican.

“It is popular with tourists, but it is also a local gathering place that gives people a place to come and talk about their life.

“When it is up and going, it has a great atmosphere with lots to offer for the right person.”

For the nine months prior to Covid lockdowns in March 2020, the Venturoni family set about re-establishing the pub.

Wall-to-wall renovations were completed with the outside of the pub also given some love.

A menu and selection of drinks was whipped up from scratch by the in-laws who took on the job as Gellibrand River Hotel publicans.

Mrs Venturoni’s parents Bev and Charlie Roles ran the pub for nine months before Covid restrictions led to the Venturoni’s keeping the doors shut since.

The family have other business interests in the region, meaning they don’t have the time to run the pub as they would like.

The Gellibrand River Hotel hosts a public bar, comfortable bistro, four motel rooms, large beer garden, two-bedroom manager’s residence and a 14,930 sqm parcel of land which could be up for development, subject to approval.

Expressions of interest are closing March 25 at 4pm.

Meanwhile in East Gippsland, the Avon Hotel at Stratford, owned by Terry Watt, has been listed for sale with a reserve price of $1.5m.