The quaint village of Rutherglen was made famous more than 150 years ago due to its innovative winemaking with some vines more than 100 years old and thanks to drought, heat and cold shivering nights is responsible for full-bodied reds and smart fortified, delicious aromatic wines.
The bold colours of a crisp Spring and Autumn air along with its ties to being known as the jewel of Ned Kelly country, Rutherglen is also known for its searches for gold and dubious banking practices and is also home to the Murray River.
With an Aussie history like this, it is no wonder that in 2021,
Kate and Matt Halpin purchased the Victoria Hotel Rutherglen, engaging a Victorian-based firm to undertake the design, while north-eastern Victorian and border trades
and consultants were involved in the build, ushering in a new era of hospitality
in the heart of Rutherglen.
"Understanding we’re simply the custodians for this chapter in The Victoria’s
history, we have intended to respect the legacy of her history while
creating a place to be enjoyed by many more generations,” says owner and Venue
Director Kate Halpin.
"We’re cognisant of the integral role local pubs play within the community, be
it for creating connections, offering solace in times of crisis or as places
for celebrating life’s key moments. We hope we’ve created a place that instils
a sense of community pride and where locals and visitors feel equally at home.”
Headed up by Chef Brendan
Anderson in the kitchen, guests will enjoy a menu that draws on High
Country produce with a focus on cooking over flame and charcoal for meals
celebrating regional and local produce, while the wine list concentrates on North-east Victorian winemakers.
Located on Main Street, the historic Victoria Hotel Rutherglen is conveniently situated within easy access of picturesque townships such as Beechworth (think Beechworth Bakery), Milawa (cheese) and Chiltern (a nostalgic town where an Australian Prime Minister was born), plus the snowfields of Bright and Myrtleford a further 90 minutes away.
While you could, as their ethos suggests - dine, gather or rest here (after all, six of the earmarked 14 boutique suites are ready to open in early 2024), there is also plenty to do in the surrounding region including visiting one of Australia’s oldest wineries, All Saints Estate with its English gardens and castle estate.
For those who love getting outdoors, there’s the Cellar Door Loop that takes you cycling through nine kilometres of vineyards and olive groves, or you could even opt to stay in a tiny house, at the very edge of a gorgeous vineyard surrounded by grapes, gumtrees and gourmet food.
