280 Ferrars Street, corner Bank Street, South Melbourne
MEL: 2K A3
David Lewis first licensed the Railway Hotel in
1856. James Trotter publican from 1861 to 1870 was very involved in racing and
cemented the close relationship between horseracing and pubs, his relative F
Trotter being the spokesman for horse owners and trainers in 1865. The hotel
was built on a subdivided allotment that was part of the estate of Apoo/Abboo
Mason/Masung, a governmental Chinese interpreter.After his death and subsequent auction in
1871, it was renamed the Railway Hotel.Bob Powell, who would later manage the Shannon and Shamrock
Hotel in Bank Street, was licensee
and is still immortalised in the history of the hotel, as his painted name is
evident on the front of the building.
Former National RSL President Bruce Ruxton
was apparently a regular at the hotel during the time Molly Davis was its
licensee. In recent years, its publicans have included well-known retailer Stan
Cash and cricketer Simon O’Donnell. There is an ‘anti-poker machines’ sign out
the front.Its interior recalls art deco
design with its curvaceous bar and wooden floorboards throughout.Food is served in the huge back room that
contains a couple of pool tables and leads out to a beer garden.A room off the front bar is converted to a
dance floor on Friday nights to accommodate local office workers letting loose
for the weekend, while Thursday nights hosts acoustic musicians.
