General News
15 January, 2024
Accommodation, drinks to return to Evans Hotel
In massive news for the small town of Bealiba, after nearly eight years the Evans Hotel is set to reopen under the ownership of John Maher and Jonine (Jojo) Naughton. The couple have moved from Morwell to undertake the project, where they were...
In massive news for the small town of Bealiba, after nearly eight years the Evans Hotel is set to reopen under the ownership of John Maher and Jonine (Jojo) Naughton.
The couple have moved from Morwell to undertake the project, where they were previously a family violence security officer and practitioner respectively, working at the Orange Door, a family violence support group that supplies help for young children and families.
They both visited the Goldfields region regularly as gold detecting and gem stone enthusiasts, with Mr Maher explaining a golden touch of fate led them to their new reality.
“I have been camping at Dunolly and Tarnagulla for years and I have been looking for property to build — Jojo wanted a B&B and we saw the Tarnagulla pub come up for sale, which sparked the flame, but wasn’t to our liking,” he said.
“Then this came up, it was pure luck — it was a midnight Google search and it popped up. We put in the offer and it was accepted the next day.
“The hotel is in a great spot, there are so many little country towns around the place and we are virtually right in the middle of them and everything is only 15-20 minutes away.”
While not formally their occupation, Ms Naughton is confident the two will be able to restore the historic building to its former glory.
“I have done up a couple of houses in New Zealand and sold them on so we are not daunted by the task,” she said.
“We are both quite handy and we are planning to work with local businesses and tradies to get the place up and running.”
The building was originally owned and built by George Evans in 1858 after he sold his shares in the Yorkshire Hotel in Timor, with many of the foundation bricks and concrete pavement still found in the infrastructure today.
The hotel was the first business founded in Bealiba, with fellow businesses building around the hotel, making the current main street of the town.
The hotel was the only one in town from 1938 onwards, and operated for 158 years until it was closed in 2016, dealing a huge blow to the town.
Ms Naughton has expressed her surprise at the overwhelming support they have received since the news broke they were reopening the Evans Hotel.
“Everyone has been really welcoming and friendly — people have stopped and introduced themselves when we have been up the front,” she said.
“We were in Maryborough looking for a bank and then we suddenly heard ‘John! Jojo!’ and it was the mayor on her pushbike pacing up the street.”
Mr Maher has thanked the community for the warm reception and hopes the hotel can return to being a networking point for businesses, farmers and residents in the town.
“The country life has taken a little bit to get used to, but people are so welcoming out here and it is such a great change of pace to what we are used to,” he said.
“We love when people come to us with their stories about when the pub was open and all of the memories their parents or grandparents have of the place either visiting or working here.
“We are thinking of maybe having a town market in the car park, possibly some outside movie nights, just some little things like that so we can connect and support the community.
“We want to bring new life back into the pub, and hopefully that will bring new life into the town as it is such a great community.”
Once fully completed, the hotel will host five accommodation rooms, an outdoor sitting area, shared lounge, kitchen, laundry, shower and toilet facilities as well as cooked breakfast and dinner options.
A bistro and cafe are also planned for the hotel, with the new owners looking to renew the venue's liquor licence.
The original shop will be converted into a counselling room for Ms Naughton to continue her profession with EVOLVE Counselling Victoria — as she hopes to specialise in supporting local children.
Mr Maher said the hotel will be a continuing project for the couple, potentially years after they have officially opened.
“We have started on some of the bedrooms trying to modernise them whilst keeping the historical elements, it is just going to take us a little bit of time just to do what we want to do,” he said.
“There will still be a lot to do once we open, like new roofing, new iron to remove the rust, place solar panels up there and overall make the place to the standard we want it to be.”
While not officially opened as of yet, the Evans Hotel has already accommodated its first guest, with Mr Maher calling it a great learning experience.
“We were a bit nervous because we are still trying to figure out what we are trying to do, but he (the guest) was happy and asked if he could be our second visitor as well,” he said.
“He gave us some ideas and hints of what to do which is great — it is what we need because this is all new to us and it is for the community to enjoy.”
In terms of its official opening, Ms Naughton said it is currently up in the air as there is still work needed to be done.
“We don’t have a set opening time because we don’t know for sure when we will be ready, we will hopefully have the accommodation side of it done in around a month or so,” she said.
To contact the Evans Hotel, go to the Evans Hotel Facebook page, or call 03 9969-2191.