Stewart and Alicia Northausen took up management of the place more than 15 years ago but due to COVID-19, Thursday, December 23, was last shout for the Tonny pub.
Like many small businesses, the Northenhausens struggled with the imposed COVID restrictions on the pub, opening and closing the business throughout the past two years.
Alicia said while the family was looking forward to spending more time together, the decision was not made lightly, with the ending being bittersweet.
“The last two years have not been favourable for hospitality, which is sort of what ended up tipping us over the edge in deciding not to stay on,” she said.
“We’ve been here for a very long time, if we’d only been here for five years it wouldn’t have been an issue, but we need to go on to finish raising our kids and spend some time with them.
“It hasn’t panned out the way we wanted it, but our time is up.”
Now fit with a bar, bistro area and nine motel apartments, the pub was established in 1887 as a weatherboard structure, then extensively renovated in 1913 into the brick building that stands today.
Across those years, many lives, stories and characters crossed the doorway of the Tonny pub, one particularly special mainstay being the late Peter John Reagan, or Ray, as Alicia and the town knew him.
“He lived at the pub for 54 years, so when we bought it he came with it,” she said.
“He used to just do jobs and bits around the the pub and he just became part of the family, as he was to a lot of people that come to the pub.”
The pub remains a community staple — for the footy club to throw a Mad Monday, kids to have a cheeky pub meal, and a place where generations have come to have a beer and a laugh.
Taking over the lease many moons ago, the Northausens got more than they bargained for in the best way possible.
“We’ve had the chance to watch the community grow; some of the young ones we’ve watched go from 15 to 30 and now they’re married with their own kids and things like that,” Alicia said.
“The kids have got a lot of people in their lives that they wouldn't have had if we hadn't been here, and we don't have a huge family base, so that's been good for them.
“There’s lots of people that will obviously stay a big part of our lives.”
Alicia said while the journey had been enriching for herself and the family, it had not been without difficulties.
Taking over not long after the Nestlé factory began making redundancies, along with a drought and the changing of alcohol taxes and smoking laws, the first few years featured rapid changes and challenges for the new owners.
“Honestly looking back, I've got no idea how I managed to raise three kids and survive living in a pub for 16 years,” she said with a laugh.
“I think it’s just time for new beginnings.”
While it’s the end of the road for the Northausens manning the pub, Alicia said they were hoping for another buyer to keep the community hub going.
“It’s an exciting time for the town, there’s a lot of people, especially young people, really stepping up and doing things for the town, it’s awesome to see,” she said.
Although Stewart was away for the final hurrah, Alicia invited community members on December 23 to drink the pub dry and say their goodbyes.
The send-off saw donations given to Tongala Shine Bright Kindergarten and enough funds for the Tongala under-12 football team to cover the purchase of new helmets.
“Thank you to everyone that has shown us so much love and support in our decision,” Tongala Hotel Motel team wrote on Facebook.
“It’s not quite the outcome we had planned but if COVID has taught us anything it’s that your health, wellbeing and family come first always.”
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