THE Tantanoola Tiger Hotel reopened at midday last Friday after a two year hiatus and a facelift.
New publicans Luke and Laura Kompo, who also own Millicent’s George Street Gourmet Meats, served nearly 200 meals in their first weekend of trade with patrons appreciating the pub’s return to operation with fresh paint, new carpets and furniture and an upgraded kitchen and gaming room and TAB.
Planned future improvements include the provision of a beer garden and a semi-detached self contained two bedroom unit which will soon be available for rent as a bed and breakfast.
“People were blown away at how the place looks,” said Mr Kompo.
“Everyone is so happy that its open again.
“And we’re blown away at the reaction,” he said adding that several functions, including two buck shows, boosted the hotel on its first weekend back in operation.
Mr and Mrs Kompo originate from Kingston where Laura trained as a chef at the Crown Inn with publican Tom Gardner and Mr Kompo praised Mr Gardner for the guidance he had given the couple in their new venture.
“If it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t be here,” Mr Kompo said.
Mr Gardner’s uncle is Robbie Warren, a former operator of the 142 year old Tantanoola Hotel.
Now retired, Mr Warren also recently visited the hotel during the renovations and had been impressed.
“We’re going to have a red hot crack at this,” said Mr Kompo acknowledging that operating the hotel, especially in the continuing Covid-19 environment, would be challenging.
Mr Kompo also advised that, contrary to local rumour, the cut out of the Tantanoola Tiger which once adorned the roof of the hotel was not stolen but is being copied and a new tiger will soon be installed on the roof.
The old tiger will be put on display inside the hotel.
Meanwhile the taxidermied ‘Tantanoola Tiger’, after which the hotel is named, remains on display in its glass case within the hotel.
The animal made Tantanoola a household name in Australia when it was shot in 1895 after it had terrorised sheep in the area for several years.
Believed to be an Assyrian Wolf, it was thought to have escaped from a passing circus.
