A little bush pub in the middle of nowhere

A big change is happening in the little community of Bendoc, with the local hotel undergoing a transformation that’s more than just skin deep – the pub’s got a whole new vibe.

Those familiar with the Victorian border town might be surprised that the hotel’s new owner, John Marshall, and his partner, Caroline Wassink have made such a change to the watering hole in just a handful of months.

“We’ve been blown away by the feedback we’ve had and how supportive everyone has been,” Jono says.

“We’ve even had customers tell us they’ve got family in the area that they haven’t seen for years, but the changes at the pub have given them an excuse to get together.”

Jono has family ties to the area himself, and he and Caroline were just visiting when they saw the hotel for sale in January 2022. This led to the big decision to set aside successful careers in the defence force to buy a country pub.

“We didn’t come here to build a big business, but to build a family,” Jono says.

“We were both career driven people, but this was more of a lifestyle choice.”

And this can be seen in the changes they are making at the hotel, which has seen them give over some of their living space to expand the bar area.

The renovations have been ongoing ever since Jono and Caroline arrived, with the pair opening the building up and bringing out the historical façade.

This will see visitors to the pub welcomed by the original hard wood timber weatherboard that would have been milled in Bendoc years ago.

“We’ve had some good ideas as we’ve gone along, and found some great historic things that can be put on display at the pub too,” Jono said.

Inside there are some dramatic changes taking place, with the Post Office facility once located out the back moving to the front, and walls being taken out to give a bigger feel overall.

Speaking of the Post Office, Jono and Caroline have also taken over a mail contract for the wider area, establishing a small depot in Orbost.

“So we’ve turned that into another little career thing that’ll make a big difference to local people,” Jono said.

Marking another big development for the business, the kitchen is running again, which has seen the community flock in for meals, and the basic accommodation building next door is giving workers a place to stay.

While the simple dinner menu has brought customers back in droves, so too have the new meat tray raffles, which support a series of good causes.

“With the raffles the aim has been to bring the community together, and the proceeds go to various charities like the RSL and the Convoy for Kids,” Jono said.

“The raffles give a reason for everyone to come in and catch up, and that’s what these little communities need.”

With that in mind, Jono and Caroline plan to host community events on a monthly basis, including weighins for the local fishing club, of which Jono is now a committee member.

Special occasions will also be celebrated with the community at the Bendoc Hotel, with Australia Day being a prime example as a happy crowd came along to enjoy a game of cricket, darts and some damn good food.

The feedback for the day was outstanding as people came from near and far to celebrate.

“The pub’s now very family friendly and we want to get everyone along,” Jono said.

“We can’t believe how everyone gets behind us, and I can’t really find the words to say how rewarding our time here so far has been.”

To keep up to date with the latest happenings at the pub, simply follow the Bendoc Hotel on Facebook.