General News
8 December, 2024
Historic hotel vine gets some love
THE historic grapevine growing around the verandah of Inglewood’s former Royal Hotel is receiving extra care ahead of a special birthday next year. The vine dates from 1915 and almost 110 years later, Gino Antognetti is pouring his heart into...
THE historic grapevine growing around the verandah of Inglewood’s former Royal Hotel is receiving extra care ahead of a special birthday next year.
The vine dates from 1915 and almost 110 years later, Gino Antognetti is pouring his heart into shaping the luscious foliage growing around verandah posts and linking the view on the corner of Brooke and Verdon Streets.
Gino came to Australia from Italy after an earthquake destroyed much of the Abruzzo region in 2009.
The region’s capital L’Aquila and surrounding villages were badly damaged and an estimated 1500 people were killed.
Gino said the love of vines came from his father who had managed a vineyard in Italy.
He proudly shared knowledge of parts of the vine to be around guide wires and posts and dormant twigs that could be trimmed.
“The vine is starting to look beautiful,” said Gino as the historic building regains a more royal face, four years after the hotel closed its doors.
Part of the building that rose from the ashes of the 1861 main street fire this year became home to the ambulance auxiliary op-shop where volunteers continue to raising funds for the community.