Feature Profiles
5 June, 2026
Great times at the Empire State.
ANNE Marie Fiscalini knows more than a few stories about the pub that’s been a hub in Inglewood.
ANNE Marie Fiscalini knows more than a few stories about the pub that’s been a hub in Inglewood.
She grew up in the famous Empire State Hotel in the 1960s and 1970s - her parents owned the historical hostelry in the days of rivalry with the nearby Pelican and the Royal up on the corner of Brooke Street and Verdon Street.
“We would sit up on the verandah and watch people do a local pub crawl ... they didn’t have far to walk between the three hotels,” she recalled this week.
“The Pelican closed but the rivalry between the Empire State and the Royal continued whether it was raising money for the Royal Children’s Hospital or the swimming carnivals that the Lions Club would organise.”
Anne Maree has been researching the Empire State’s history and its place in the social life of the town. And recording her recollections of a unique view on life in a country town.
She is now following with real interest moves officially unveiled last week to form a community consortium to purchase the hotel as current licencee Steve Weavell looks to retirement.
“It’d be great to see the Empire State - now the only hotel in a town of 1000 people - have a renewed lease on life and then I can add a few more pages to the record of history of the hotel and the building where I grew up,” Anne Maree said.
She said it was a proud American named William Marion Smith who opened the hotel in the 1860s when the district was buzzing with gold prospectors.
“He used to host the biggest 4th of July parties for all the American’s on the Goldfields that came from miles away on foot, horseback or in loaded buggys,” Anne Maree says. “They slept in the main street and bought out every shop in town with the gold they had found and the town all looked forward to his 4th of July celebrations.
“I recently found an original photo from 1875-1878 of the pub with several gentlemen out the front. I believe it was a photo of the first meeting held of the Inglewood Football Club.”
After the proud American, the hotel was then owned by Edwin Campbell and Marguerite Jewell of Shubanacadie (opposite the cemetery road) and when they divorced Marguerite married Robert Finch “the butcher across the road near where Nevins is now”.
Anne Maree has donated to the local historical society a little original 1911 hotel/ football calender produced by M L Finch who was the Empire State’s longest serving licensee.
It was among her collection of memoribilia. “I’ve still got a few of dad’s treasures, my brother Ian had the old pianola that was in the big loungeroom, my brother Brendan has the old wooden fridge in the background of this photo proudly in his men’s shed.
“I’ve got the old original crockery, kitchen stuff and books, photos etc, which all hold the fondest memories of growing up in the best pub in town.”
Anne Maree says it would be a shame to see the Empire State close. “She just needs some TLC and for the town to save her.”
“My dear Grandma Mrs Eily White actually bought the Empire from Tom Brown as dad and mother were too young to have a licence.
“Dad grew up in pubs all his life in Ballarat and Dad’s parents Rolly and Myrtle Fiscalini owned the Junction Hotel in Ravenswood so they knew how to run a pub or two.”
When the Fiscalinis called time, ownership of the Empire State went to Alan and Dot Concol.
By the mid-1980s the former Melbourne car salesman Enzo Scafati and his wife Roslyn were pulling the beers, serving meals and putting on the entertainment,
“That’s when Enzo pulled out all the walls to open up the spaces to accommodate more customers,” Anne Maree said.
“I am happy to be corrected on any of my memories and information but feel I must quickly jot down some of my memories and I’m sure hundreds more friends will come forward with their own stories to help save this historic community place of life filled events and laughter.”
But importantly, Anne Maree hopes for new memories for new generations in an iconic country pub.
Read More: Inglewood