General News
29 May, 2026
Community could help save town’s historic pub
INGLEWOOD’S last pub could be headed for community ownership. A public meeting tomorrow night will canvas support to buy the Empire State Hotel still on the market after more than 12 months.
INGLEWOOD’S last pub could be headed for community ownership.
A public meeting tomorrow night will canvas support to buy the Empire State Hotel still on the market after more than 12 months.
Owner Steve Weavell wants to retire on doctor’s advice but has been unable to find a buyer for the hotel that first served thirsty gold miners in the 1860s.
James Nevins, of agents FP Nevins and Co, said the hotel was a key part of Inglewood’s social and economic landscape.
“But the fear is now quite real that we could lose our hotel ... the doors closed, the town left without a place for people to gather with family and friends,” he said.
“That would be a tragedy at a time when we are seeing more people move to Inglewood and surrounding districts because of the lifestyle we offer.”
The community meeting follows approaches to Mr Nevins from within the community of people wanting to make sure the hotel doors remain open.
“It’s the last hotel in Inglewood. People are recognising that if doors close, they may never re-open again,” he said.
“So after informal discussions, we’ve decided to call a community meeting and discuss options to form a local consortium.
“We have researched models for the consortium, and they will be discussed at the meeting.”
Mr Weavell has owned the hotel since 2017.
He battled through the economic downturn experienced by small businesses during Covid when Inglewood’s second hotel, the Royal, closed and never re-opened.
Mr Weavell said last year: “The doctor has told me I’ve got to stop being on my feet for hours every day,” Steve said at the weekend. “And if I don’t, I’ll end up crippled.”
“I have had terrible trouble walking for a while and everyone has seen the difficulty I now have even going from one end of the bar to the other.”
The Empire State Hotel opened in a timber building in 1861 that was destroyed by fire a decade later.
Today’s hotel was built in 1873 and in 1927 the present balcony was added in honour of Inglewood’s first “Back to”.
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