AFTER serving the Penola community for almost 80 years, the Heyward family is parting ways with the Royal Oak Hotel, marking the end of an era.
Penola’s John Rymill has acquired the historic hotel and will continue John and Libby Heyward’s legacy following the family’s lifelong association.
The extensive property was built by Alexander Cameron, founder of Penola and uncle of Mary MacKillop.
John Heyward’s involvement with the venue dates back to August 1940 when his father Reginald George took over the premises in partnership with Paddy McCauley.
Mr Cameron was issued one of the earliest hotel licences in South Australia in 1848, allowing him to open the Royal Oak.
The original building was a slab construction, however in 1872 Mr Cameron arranged for construction of a new two-storey stone hotel, built by A Dunbar for 2883 pounds.
During construction, the Penola correspondent to The Border Watch reported on September 18, 1872, “the new Royal Oak Hotel is now in full swing, the cellar walls have appeared up to the surface and a large number of men are employed.
The report says that none but teetotallers are engaged on the work.”
John Heyward took over management of the hotel at just 20 years of age after his father’s unexpected death in 1966, becoming the licensee in 1988, with his wife Libby.
Mr Heyward said his earliest memories of the business included visitors arriving on horse and cart.
“My current office was also my former room as a child,” he said.
During the pair’s time as private owners and licensees, the premises has undergone an abundance of changes under the guidance and direction of Ms Heyward and has seen up to seven generations of Penola families walk through its doors.
The changes have included extending the hotel’s closing time, trading seven days a week and developing the paddock into a beer garden in 1988.
The tower and attic were also constructed, with gaming machines and a gaming bar added and a bottle shop developed in 1989 with two further extensions.
The hotel is heritage and National Trust listed and one of South Australia’s earliest licensed venues.
The prominent business has had its fair share of notable visitors, including state governors, numerous politicians, test cricketers, AFL footballers and celebrity chef Len Evans.
It has also been honoured with awards including the best redevelopment of a regional hotel in the state and best regional bottle shop.
Not only were the Heywards a prominent business family, but they were also heavily involved with supporting countless community events.
Mr Heyward was patron of the Penola Football Club for 49 years and patron of the town’s races, bowling club and cricket club.
In between serving the Penola community, Mr and Ms Heyward brought up five daughters – Jane, Sarah, Georgina, Pip and Annabel – who all worked in the hotel before pursuing their own careers.
Daughter Pip Schinckel said the hotel was not just a building for their family, but a home.
“Mum and dad put a lot of hard work into the hotel and as it was our home as well it really was a 24/7 job,” she said.
Ms Schinckel said some of her most memorable times there as a child included sitting on top of cartons of beer as her dad wheeled the liquor to the bottle shop.
“Christmas was also a busy time for mum and dad and I have fond memories of the Christmas Eve street party and the bars and dining room being packed,” she said.
“The bottle shop and bar were always open on Christmas morning, so it was all hands on deck before we closed the hotel and sat down for Christmas lunch.
“Mum and dad would sometimes invite a couple of customers who had nowhere to go on Christmas Day to join us. ”
Daughter Georgina McIntyre said she fondly remembered cooking with her grandmother in the pub’s kitchen.
“Nan helped to run the pub and I think for a woman in that day and age it was pretty impressive,” she said.
“We also had a lot of fun playing hide and seek in the bottle shop stables.”
Ms Schinckel said it was a sad and emotional time for the family as they moved on from the hotel.
“We are so happy it has gone to a local who respects the local history,” she said.
The sisters said it would be great for the hotel to have new life and looked forward to seeing it grow in the future.
As part of a farewell to the adored hotel, the community recently celebrated its history alongside the Heyward family.
During the event, Mr and Ms Heyward, together with their five daughters, gathered behind the bar one last time.
