Vic Hotel Ouyen - Heritage & History

24/04/2026

For those who gave all. WE REMEMBER.

03/03/2026

Thank you Petes Photos for visiting Ouyen and capturing this photo as well as other significant builldings around the town.

The Victoria Hotel standing tall under a heavy sky.
No matter the weather, these old pubs hold their ground — stories in every brick and balcony.

14/02/2026

PEACE DAY OUYEN - 19 JULY 1919

The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28th 1919, and formerly ended World War I. To mark the final ending of 'the war to end all wars' official celebrations were held on Saturday July 19th, which was declared Peace Day throughout the British empire.

In the mallee town of Ouyen, still young and growing, Peace Day was both joy and sorrow intertwined. Residents were gathered in the street, families stood shoulder to shoulder. Mothers who had endured years of waiting. Fathers who had worked the land while their sons fought overseas, children who had grown up knowing the word 'war' before they understood the world. All gathered in a moment of collective exhale.

Speeches were made and laughter rang out perhaps for the first time without shadow. The war had taken so much - lives, youth, security, certainty. But it had not taken hope. In the years that followed, that hope began to take physical form in the township. In Ouyen the construction of the Victoria Hotel during that period was no coincidence.

Built in the shadow of war when resources were scarce and hearts were heavy, the Victoria Hotel became a symbol of recovery, unity and ambition. For returned servicemen it may have been a place to reconnect with mates and family. Peace was not simply declared in distant halls of power, it was also celebrated in the quiet courage of small towns like Ouyen.

Today, as we reflect on 19 July 1919. Peace Day serves as a reminder that Ouyen's growth was forged not only by pioneers and farmers, but also by sacrifice and forged resilience. And the Victoria Hotel still stands as a testament to that turning point - when the war ended, and a new chapter for Ouyen truly began. Her heritage and historical significance is just as worthy of preservation as is her physical structure.

Please help us to preserve her legacy by continuing to tell and share her stories. Sometimes in the midst of modernity we tend to forget the history from which our lives were shaped.

01/02/2026

Today was spent perusing and analysing the plans and specifications prepared by the architects for Mallee Hotels Limited back in 1957 when alterations were carried out. Mr L. H. Greed was publican and licensee at the time.

Upon reading, I was reminded of the time when my family and I removed the old carpet and exposed more of the amazing checkered tiles in the bar area. I had wanted to expose and retain the original tiles, but removing the glue that covered it proved too costly.

These tiles according to the specs are "Sinzig" vitreous floor tiles from Rogers Seller and Myhill Pty Ltd in Melbourne. The company was established in 1895 and is still in business up to the present day. The tiles comprised of three colours - Black, Grey and Grey Porphyry and are arranged in a checkered pattern.

Sinzig tiles originated from Germany and April 1870 was the birth of the Sinzig tiles factory. The astute entrepreneur was Ferdinand Frings. He purchased 27 plots of land with a total area of 30,000 m2 in close proximity to rich clay deposits to build a ceramic production plant. Around 1890 the number of employees was 400. However, World War II marked a turning point when the factory was reduced to rubble. Towards the middle of 1946, the factory would resume production again and is still in business today.

This is a brief history of one of the materials only. As we dissect the history of the building, we will be sharing with you a history of all the materials that has been selected to build this magnificent building that was once proclaimed would be "the most grandest building" in the Mallee by the liquor licensing court back in 1917.

When it was agreed that a hotel was needed to accommodate travellers to the township as well as for the economic best interest of Ouyen. Mr George Dixon Brown would be granted a Victualler's license for Ouyen on the condition that he build a hotel in accordance with the plans submitted to the court and the building be completed by 31 December 1919. Prior to this the licence was granted to Mrs Emily Kate Busst (from Bendigo) who was then the Proprietor and subject upon the same condition, until Mr Brown relinquished his wine license and completed construction.

Complete construction, indeed he did. The Victoria Hotel was opened on 20 December 1919 with Mr G.D. Brown as first licensee. Cheers to that!🍻 We now have a time line to begin our story about Victoria Hotel Ouyen.

We hope you will join us as we journey back in time and uncover how this grand building came into existence. For now the rooms are a repository of all the pieces which were removed in the course of alterations over a period of time, offering a glimpse of what she once was as she forges ahead into the future.

28/01/2026

The name Farrell is perpetuated in 'Farrell Street' which is part of the Calder Highway from the railway crossing northwards. When the Farrell family arrived that part of Ouyen was virgin country. When Mr Farrell acquired the land it had to be cleared for building purposes.

In the beginning, it was he who built the bank premises, the butcher's and baker's shops, the blacksmith's shop, and the old coffee palace. The first hall (Farrell's Hall) was also built by him and was used as a gathering place for town meetings as well as conducting religious services.

Mr Farrell and Mr Leach also brought the cordial factory to Ouyen, the plant having come from Daylesford. Mr Farrell had the assistance of Mr R J Emmett who was his brother in law, Mrs Farrell being Mrs Emmett's sister. Mr Farrell's father was also the first president of the shire.

On 16 May 1921 it was announced that Mr C.C Leitch had purchased a site in the eastside of the railway (on Mitchell Street) in which to re-erect his cordial factory. He expected to erect and have the plant in operation within two months. The capacity of the plant was five hundred dozen bottles a day with the capacity to increase if the need requires.

Then on 31 May 1922 it was advertised in the Ouyen Mail that the business had been purchased by Mr W.P. Heley. The business was well known and Ouyen Bitter would win first prize at the first Royal Melbourne Show. Although Mr Heley ran a successful business enterprise he would be struck by tragedy.

On 13 January 1928 there was news that Ouyen was enveloped in fierce sand blast and a boy had been killed. In the fiercest dust storm ever experienced in the district, Charles Heley,14, was killed when a motor truck he was riding in was blown off the road.

Mr W.P Heley was driving at the time. The truck hit a culvit guard and lost control. The truck struck a fence head on, and a rail crashed through the windscreen and impailed the boy. In the midst of this tragedy, a few houses were unroofed, and sheds collapsed all over the district. Then in 1941 fire would engulf the cordial factory which at the time had been used as a productiom and distribution centre. The business would continue to operate from its Mildura location thereafter.

Life in the Mallee was full of stories of triumph and tragedy. Yet, the pioneers would persevere despite all the hardships thrown at them. We can only hope that Mr Heley overcame his grief and went on to live a most fulfilling life. As for Mr Farrell, his name is forever etched into the history of Ouyen alongside the other early pioneers whose impact on Ouyen will always be remembered in history.

27/01/2026

These photographs were published in the Weekly Times on 10 August 1912. Notably, Ouyen had only been settled since 1909, the population at the time was approximately 50 settlers, in 1916 grew to 400 and by 1928 the population was reported to be 1000.

In 1903 the railway finally opened being built using second hand rail and no ballast. From 1906-12 a huge influx of people came to the Mallee to try their luck either as farmers, workers or traders.

The mallee underwent an incredibly rapid rate of settlement, despite enduring the worst drought in 1914 and the First World War. As trade and population increased so did the need for accommodation. And soon in 1919, the Victoria Hotel would come to be.

📸 Click on the photo to see the description.

25/01/2026

'Australia Day' was adopted nationally in 1915 with the date chosen as 30 July. Early Australia Day celebrations coincided with the First World War, and combined the elements of earnest patriotism and fundraising.

By 1935, all states were celebrating 26 January as Australia Day - except New South Wales who still referred to it as Anniversary Day.

It was not until 1994 that Australia Day became a national public holiday for all states and territories.

Fast forward to Australia Day 2026, I reflect on the day my family arrived in Australia as refugees in 1981. As a 5 year old I learned English by singing our National Anthem and the Hokey Pokey at school. We arrived with nothing but only what we were wearing, in hope for a better life than what we left behind.

We became Australian Citizens on 18 July 1981, and that document will always be most precious to us above everything we own. When we left our country we lost our identity. Our citizenship restored our faith that we now belong somewhere.

When my English improved my friends called me a banana 🍌. White on the inside but yellow on the outside.😆

Today, I proudly proclaim that 'I am, you are, we are Australian'.🇦🇺 And I will always call Australia home.

Happy Australia Day everyone!❤️ 🍻

🇦🇺 🇦🇺 How did Ouyen celebrate this day on 26 January 1935? Read the article below.⬇️

25/01/2026

When World War I ended in November 1918 more than 250,000 soldiers returned to Australia, and almost 78,000 to Victoria alone. They returned to a grateful nation that was determined to repay them for their service and sacrifice.The Soldier Settlement Scheme was developed to provide blocks of land for returned service men and women so they have the opportunity to farm and hopefully rebuild their lives.

Farms were established throughout Victoria (including Ouyen) under the Discharged Soldier Settlement Act 1917 where Crown lands were open up to settlement. The scheme was based upon the belief that primary production would be the foundation of Victoria's future prosperity.

Land was not given to prospective settlers, rather interest bearing loans were offered to buy blocks of land or improve their existing holdings. In Victoria almost 12,000 soldiers took advantage of the scheme. Few would ever see their land before they bought it and only 20 percent had farming experience.

To get land potential settlers had to submit an application form and attend an interview with the Closer Settlement Board. They were required to divulge how much money they had, their family information, occupation before enlisting, the nature of their war experience, state of health and any disabilities. They also needed letters vouching their farming experience and reference letters from the local Repatriation Committee.

Applicants were not allowed to choose their own land. Those who were successful were allocated a block somewhere in their state and received a £500 loan (later years increased to £625). With this they were expected to buy stock, farming equipment and seed so they can get established and support themselves and their families. The land did not include any form of accommodation on it. It was up to the settlers to build their own homes.

Until they could afford to build something more permanent, settlers lived in make shift quarters. These may be made of canvas over timber framing, or a small hut with corrugated iron walls and earthen floor. Many soldier settlers lived in tents, sometimes for years.

The hard work of farming life began the moment the settlers arrived on the land. They had to clear it, fence their blocks, build stock yards, and get rid of weeds and pests. Those who were allocated dry land in the Mallee had to also provide their own water by building a dam.

To protect its investment, the State would set up inspectors for each district. The inspectors' duties were extensive. They had to supervise and advise settlers, collect and receive payments on behalf of the board, and report on the progress of the settlers and make any recommendations etc. In the 'lottery for land' some soldier settlers were lucky enough to secure a good block - free from the ravages of drought, pests and disease. Those who were lucky to build a successful farming enterprise were able to afford to buy their land from the board and relinquish themselves from debt.

The 1920s saw prices plummet for butterfat, fruit and vegetables, lamb and wool. A dramatic drop in the price of wheat in 1931 was for many, the final straw. For wheat growers in the Mallee, the plummeting price coincided cruelly with their first good harvest in four years. Many farms did not make enough to support the farmer and his family. Farmers had to abandon their farms and search for work elsewhere to earn money as labourers or farm hands.

By 1926 some 3000 soldier settlers had abandoned their farms, or had been removed due to their inability to repay their debts. This was the case of Ellen and Frank Bennett settlers near Turriff in the Mallee. Soon after clearing the Mallee scrub from their block they ran out of money and requested sustenance payments as they had nothing to live on. By 1935 they were still living in a house with hessian ceilings and walls. Their position was deemed hopeless by the board and they left the land.

● Percy Herbert Cartledge who went to Court to challenge a warrant of ejection issued by the Closer Settlement Commission in 1937 which he took up for almost 17 years. Percy was a soldier settler who took up land in Kulwin (near Ouyen) in 1920.

● William Bellamy recalled his experience in 1934 as an 11 year struggle before surrendering his 750 acre wheat block near Ouyen.

Today, descendants of soldier settlers are still on the land and embrace memories of their ancestors who toiled, conquered or were defeated by the land. The experiences of World War I soldier settlers paved the way for the next generation of returned servicemen. They benefited from the important lessons learned from the previous scheme.

To ensure soldier settlers were supported and successful, applicants were carefully selected, given accommodation on their blocks and awarded a basic living wage and given extensive agricultural training. Better support for physical and mental health was also provided. It helped that world prices for agricultural products boomed in the post-war period.

The stories of the early soldier settlers will always be enduring, not only in the Mallee but throughout Australia. These brave men and women not only fought for their country, but returned to their homeland and became pioneers in building towns across the country. The story of our regional towns must begin with them and the legacy they have left for future generations.

21/01/2026

Mr Ben Oke J.P was up until 1909 a contractor and builder in Warracknabeal. It was in the early part of 1910 that he became a pioneer of Ouyen.

When everyone else was snatching up land on the east side of the railway, Ben Oke went against the crowd and built his store on the west side. The site he chose would have been right smack in the centre of town that is today known as "Oke Street".

He was ridiculed by the many who had chosen the east side to build their businesses. But in the midst of the chaotic conditions he observed of those on the east side, had decided to build his store up on the hill on the west side of the railway. He proved to have made the right decision as the land on the east side was prone to flooding.

Ouyen in the earlier years prior to settlement had been a canvas tent town. It was in 1888 the first notes of the great Mallee boom were heard. The Mallee land, generally considered worthless, proved fit for cultivation.

A German farmer from South Australia, living in Lake Hindmarsh, constructed the Mallee roller. His name was Stinchcombe. That day of the German farmer rolling down the scrub was the starting point of Mallee development. The rush to take up Mallee blocks was enormous and new implements were invented to overcome the challenging conditions. Cultivation still continues today, and let's hope it will continue for many generations to come.

Ouyen was preparing to boom. It would be a few more years yet before the Victoria Hotel is born, and her story can begin to be told.

18/01/2026

Mallee scrub and porcupine grass bind the Mallee sand. When they are removed wind erosion known as 'blowouts' causes sand to pile up. This has been a recurring issue with events dating back to the 1940s highlighting damage to roads, Railways and water channels.

17/01/2026

Some old photos of Ouyen State School, boys at lockers and teachers at a conference in Ouyen High School.

Source: PROV Photo Archives