Hotel History

“CELEBRATING 100 YEARS - 1907-2007”

It is 100 years since the first licence was granted for a Hotel in Kinglake and the first licensee was Harry Thomson.

Harry Thomson, who lived in the Kinglake District from 1875, married Elizabeth in 1883 and had four children – Daisy, Florence, Frank and Mabel. In 1895 Harry bought 110 acres and with his brother in-law, built a large house on the land called “Aurelia Villa” which was both a family home and a guesthouse.

In 1907 Harry applied for a licence to operate a “wayside inn” and when this licence was granted, a little hotel was located in a new wing built onto the “Aurelia Villa” guesthouse.

Harry and Elizabeth also ran the post office so together with this, “Aurelia Villa” and the Hotel became a busy meeting place at all times of the day for locals. By this time, Harry’s son Frank had become the licensee and he and his wife Ann ran the business.

The entire original “Aurelia Villa” building was lost in February 1926 when it was burnt down in the Black Sunday bushfires in which 13 people lost their lives. For some time after the pub was run out of a tin shed until the existing building was finished in 1928 and remains today.

A number of years later, Frank and Ann sold the Hotel and moved to their house and general store across the road. That building still exists today and now houses a new Country Clothing Store called “Ranges Country”.

The Hotel was known as the Kinglake Hotel (or Kinglake Pub to the locals) until the 1960’s when the owners at the time changed its name to The National Park Hotel.

The Hotel has changed hands many times, through new owners and lessees. It has seen many gatherings and celebrations, Christmas dinners, local cricket club and football club presentations and a place of refuge for the Country Fire Brigade teams during bushfire periods.

The Hotel was the departure point for the legendary “King of the Mountain” potato race and the Mountain Muscle Man competition was held in the back paddock years ago.

The Hotel has always been an iconic centrepiece of the Kinglake Township and its external appearance has remained relatively unchanged since 1928.

Craig Lovick and his partner Sharon have owned and operated the freehold and business of the Hotel since October 2006.

To celebrate the Centenary of the Hotel and its 100 year presence within the Kinglake Community, the Hotel held a huge 100 Year Centenary Celebration Day on Saturday 15th December 2007.

The day had a theme of good old-fashioned country family fun. It was designed for the local community and visitors to celebrate traditional skills, events, vehicles and activities from days past.

The day began with a traditional Farmer’s Market at 11am. During the day there was whip cracking and chainsaw sculpting demonstrations, and there was be old fashioned games such as Tug ’O’ War, the Gum Boot Throw, Cow Lotto and “The King of the Mountain” obstacles course. For the kids there was jumping castle, petting zoo, pony rides, face painting and fairy floss. There was displays of historical commercial vehicles, CFA vehicles, a blacksmith display, horse and cart, and the Carlton and United Dray and Dogs Team. The day finished with a free concert with the popular band “RUCKUS” on the Hotel’s back lawn.

The Hotel was badly affected by the ‘Black Saturday Bushfires’ on the 7th Feburary 2009, you can read the Hotel’s story by clicking on the link found on the home page.