Millicent’s second-oldest business reopened on Monday afternoon after a three-month closure due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Now known as The George, the one-time Sportsman’s Hotel had many patrons in its front bar and gaming room.
Freehold co-owner and publican Robbie Warren was delighted to unveil the upgraded premises with fresh paint and new carpet and soft furnishings.
“It is good to be back home,” Mr Warren said.
“We obtained a State Government small business grant of $10,000 for some of the renovations and we tipped in the rest ourselves.”
Mr Warren operated the Tiger Hotel at Tantanoola from 198588 and spent the next 30 years in charge of Mount Gambier’s Commercial Hotel.
His late parents Hope and Max Warren ran pubs in Millicent and Naracoorte.
The George has traded continuously in George Street for the past 144 years.
It is the second oldest of Millicent’s three pubs and was built in 1876.
Its arguably most prominent overnight guest was English science fiction novelist H.G. Wells who visited in January, 1939.
The establishment hosted its first vice-regal event in 1879 to coincide with the opening of the railway line from Beachport to Mount Gambier.
