Commercial Hotel, Woods Point
Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) (09:46): And the winner of the best bush pub in Victoria is the Commercial Hotel, Woods Point. Enormous accolades to this great little pub in the High Country for taking out this award at the Australian Hotels Association Victorian awards night. Congratulations to owners Luke and Carley Burdon and all the staff. This award is recognition of all your hard work, dedication and perseverance. It is not always easy, and COVID certainly threw a big spanner in the mix, but you have kept going. This iconic hotel has been a local watering hole and popular destination for visitors to the area since 1886. It has burnt down a couple of times, the last time during the devastating fires in 1939. For locals the pub is a focal point and meeting place. The hotel is pretty versatile and can host a jam and scones morning tea as well as hearty meals.
Woods Point is remote by Victorian standards, and the pub relies heavily on bush users. Hunters and fishermen are frequent visitors, with people from all over the state coming to the area for four-wheel driving, horseriding and mountain bike riding. Turning our forests into national parks and locking up the bush would have a significant detrimental effect for those in the town. With the closure of the timber industry, those living and working in the High Country can ill afford another blow.