Massive community effort keeps pub alive

The wheels are turning on Grong Grong’s new community-owned pub as a refurbishment and new managers make tracks on the Royal Hotel. The pub struggled to find a new owner for months but the community attracted investors to keep the pub open. Following healthy investment, the pub is proceeding with a new fit-out with the aim to be serving beers soon. The group has also secured the services of experienced pub managers Adam Evans and Selena Lorenz who have been in charge of establishments in Mirrool and Darlington Point. One of the directors of the company that facilitated the purchase of the pub, Gemma Purcell, says the experience they offer is valuable to keeping the community at the centre of the new venture. “The long term vision is to create a beautiful country pub where locals are comfortable and happy and for it to be an iconic destination for travellers,” Mrs Purcell told the Argus. “We need to make it a warm welcoming country pub. “We’ve engaged Adam Evans and his partner Selina who ran Punt Hotel in Darlington point and a hotel in Mirrool. “We’re a community, we’re not publicans, the best way to do this is to engage people who know what they are doing.” Grong Grong has suffered a large number of community infrastructure closures in recent years. In 2017, the town lost Grong Grong Public School and was compounded by the closing of the local police station and churches. The Royal Hotel went onto the market in early 2021 but didn’t receive any convincing offers, largely due to COVID-19. The community weren’t going to allow another asset to go without a fight and set out engaging the community in July. “The interest and confidence in the community at that first meeting was huge,” she said. “Everyone understood what it was we were hoping to do, which was broadly to raise enough money via a co-operative or share structure to purchase the Royal Hotel Grong Grong outright, and to carry out if not significant renovations, at least a really smart cosmetic clean up and tidy.” Within 40 days of their first community meeting they set up a trust, company, and management team to spearhead the move to attract investment and buy the pub. The team was led by Gemma, her husband Reiner Meier, Adam Ferguson, AJ Gillespie and Cain Gawne. It was argued that a vibrant local pub attracts tourism and investment, creates employment opportunities and offers a place for the community to be proud of. The community was shocked to see just how much support was on the horizon. “We were absolutely overwhelmed with support and interest in the idea,” Gemma said. “People from all walks of life understood our plan and wanted to be part of it; locals, the wider Riverina community, Wagga, Leeton, Griffith, Temora (and even) Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. “Our shareholders are farmers, retirees, tradies, young families, business people, and many who just want to own a little piece of history or a little piece of a pub. “We met and exceeded our fund raising target and subsequently have purchased and settled The Royal Hotel Grong Grong.” In a major show of support, the community came out to help in the Royal Hotel’s refurbishment last week with hours of time on the tools dedicated by eager locals.

Massive community effort keeps pub alive

MP Farley reaffirms his commitment to One Nation

Get your gloves on, Australia

Martin Driver wins NSW Landcare Gerald Carnie Memorial Award

Town and Country Gardens success

Narrandera Race Club embraces summer action

Community Bank locks in naming rights for Narrandera Cup

Cad Factory team grows

Railway Station Committee dissolved, future use of station considered

Narrandera Carpheads off to flying start

Most popular stories