The former Prince of Wales hotel at 2-6 Murray St East, Colac, is scheduled to be auctioned on September 14.
From drinking hole for weary travellers, to tearooms and a boarding house for Italian migrants, the former Prince of Wales hotel has a colourful past.
Now a new venture could soon be brewing at Colac’s oldest surviving pub.
The 1874 brick landmark on the banks of Barongarook Creek is set to be auctioned on Saturday with $800,000 to $880,000 price hopes.
Ray White, Colac listing agent Toby Kent said the former pub occupied a huge 2560sq m site at 2-6 Murray St East, a high-profile location the new owners could tap into.
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“The original bar and keg room, cellar is still downstairs so it could be really cool as a little cafe,” he said.
“It’s got plenty of options, it’s just going to take someone with a bit of creativity, someone who wants to put in a bit of effort to bringing it back to life and it will be really cool.
“The land is subdividable as well so if someone wanted to just keep the building and develop the back further, there is that potential as well.”
A modern kitchen has been installed.
The arched leadlight window is a nod to the past.
The Prince of Wales, first licensed in 1875, operated as a drinking hole and wayside accommodation until 1921 and then became a boarding house for about 20 years and later a bed and breakfast.
A Colac Heritage Study reveals a proposal to demolish the building in 1970s to build a service station was knocked back.
“Ever since then it has been used as a private residence and a couple of commercial pursuits, like a craft store and a cafe,” Mr Kent said.
“It has had a commercial kitchen in the past so it’s got both those avenues and it has had a bathroom and kitchen renovation.”
The original bones still remain.
A freestanding bath forms part of this renovated bathroom.
Many people will have driven past the property travelling through Colac’s centre.
The five-bedroom, three-bathroom residence retains original high ceilings, many with pressed metal detail and cornices.
“The outside structurally is pretty good, there’s just wear and tear on the inside that really needs someone to take it on,” Mr Kent said.
“It’s got the original character features inside, which is great, because it obviously has a heritage overlay to the building so everything that you do renovations wise has to be ticked off with the council.”
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