Historic Pub Reopens

A small-town pub on the SA-Victoria border has reopened over the long weekend, nearly 18 months after a car drove through its front bar and dining room.

The Border Inn Hotel at Apsley, Victoria, shut in November 2022 after the vehicle smashed through three walls, coming to a rest 20 metres inside the hotel.

Shane Bourke and Catherine Warke, the pub’s licensee and owner respectively, had only taken over the hotel earlier that year.

Ms Warke said while she had some trepidation about beginning to trade again, she was also excited.

“It takes you a while to get into the groove and we’ve sort of lost that,” she said.

“Everyone’s very forgiving and understanding, so we’ll just take it day by day.”

Despite some setbacks, including some last-minute repairs to refrigeration, Mr Bourke said the couple had managed to “get the ball rolling” and welcome customers back.