Mangalore Railway Hotel open again

THE first Mangalore Railway Hotel was built at the intersection of the Goulburn Valley Highway and the present Hume Freeway. It moved to premises at the corner of O'Connor's Road and Grant Street Mangalore in 1880 during the gold rush days and the advent of the North East railway line, where the main junction stood for many years. In 1880 the Mangalore Railway Hotel was opened by the O'Connor family and subsequent O'Connor family members had the license up until 1923. Recently, the new pub owner Andrea Thrower hosted an O'Connor family reunion for over 60 descendants of the original clan who moved to Mangalore. Many of the O'Connor family live and farm in the Mangalore district still and are thrilled the old hotel has been rejuvenated by Andrea Thrower and her daughters Abbie (15) and Charlotte (17) and supporters from the district. Its colourful history includes two fires. In 1925 the hotel was burnt to the ground. The owners decided to rebuild it on the Hume Highway and it reopened in 1935. Another fire in 2003 also affected its operations. It was closed after 2010 until in October 2021, Andrea Thrower, a single mother and businesswoman from Melbourne, accepted the challenge of a new business venture. She has spent hundreds of hours renovating, restoring, replacing, and adding to the ambience of the old historic building's dining room, lounge, bar and outdoor beer garden. "My dreams, hopes and wishes are slowly coming true with small steps being undertaken to bring the pub back to life," Ms Thrower said. "It has not been cheap, but worthwhile. "I fell in love with the building and want to have it operating as it once was and I feel that the locals have made us feel like family in the area. "I don't want to modernise it." Railway, military and hundreds of pieces of memorabilia from bygone eras ranging from the 1880s to now are a main feature of the restored hotel. The hotel looks like a museum inside and out and the nostalgia it emanates takes one memories back over many decades. The Albury–Sydney and Shepparton railway trains still pass the pub as they have for well over a century or more. Mangalore had its own station, service station and post office up until the 1970s. The Mangalore Pub used to be the spot for truckies to stop and have a meal. It was a favourite watering hole for many military functions held there by servicemen and women and families. This was around the time Puckapunyal, Mangalore Ammunition Depot and other camps came into being around the area. Ms Thrower has kept the atmosphere cosy and welcoming for the locals and visitors who stop by for a quiet drink, a snack or a game of pool. Ms Thrower said the pub hosted an ANZAC Day event with old–fashioned games for locals. "I have been very thankful for the support of many locals who are happy to see the 'local' open again," she said. "I have done most of the refurbishment myself with some tradies' help, but many locals have contributed assistance in helping me with tasks required to get the pub up and running again. "Some have even donated items of interest to add flavour to the collections that abound around the walls, ceiling, floor and many spaces in between." Old traditional fireplaces provide a cosy atmosphere in the hotel rooms, while wooden barrels, 44–gallon drum decorated fire bins and a pool table provide the venue with a touch of Australiana. The old Lamson flying fox cash carrier wire still operates across the dining room ceiling as it had done for over 100 years. Nearly every conceivable old item of pub, household, railway or military memorabilia collected over the past century is on display. The visitor walks around in awe just trying to take in all the showpieces. Approval for the kitchen renovations has come through and Andrea hopes in the future to host good old style meals that families can enjoy when all her final plans come to fruition soon. She has been able to open the bar for drinks and snacks, and has held some private functions for families and groups. But she is looking forward to when she can host a dining room and pub full of people who enjoy the historic hotel she is endeavouring to preserve to its former glory, but with modern conveniences. She also hopes to host live music performances in the future. Meanwhile, a pleasant afternoon or evening for solo patrons, small groups or families can be spent in the hidden treasure known as the Mangalore Railway Hotel.