Ranges Hotel coowner Susanne Everett is collecting Gembrook memorabilia to set up a museum at the pub.By Sarah Schwager
GEMBROOK’S Ranges Hotel will be restored back to its original state, complete with a mini museum, after its owners recently took over management.
Susanne Everett and her brother Maurice bought the hotel two years ago but only settled in on 16 October last year when the previous tenants’ lease ran out.
Since then, the pair have been busy collecting old mementos and photographs of the town, while the pub has been undergoing minor restorations.
Ms Everett, who grew up in Upwey, said they planned to turn Ranges Hotel back into an oldfashioned familyorientated pub.
She said they were in the process of extending the balcony so it was under cover, building another five units, changing the beer tap system and fixing up the beer garden.
But the feature will be a collection of historic artefacts, titled Gembrook Through the Ages, including photos with written captions, a history of the local football club and a cabinet display of old artefacts such as potato stamps.
Ms Everett said the pub would have a children’s quarter and special children’s meals.
“We are trying to create a family environment,” she said.
Ms Everett said they hoped to attract people coming off the Puffing Billy as well as those who lived around the town.
They have decided to base their wine list around local wineries, and Ms Everett said the business would be joining Cardinia Tourism to help promote the area.
They also plan to offer bands, seniors’ meals and name each room in the hotel after famous people of Gembrook.
“We are upgrading it but not too modern. We want to keep the old feel,” she said.
“It’ll take time. It won’t happen overnight.”
Ms Everett, 46, has been in the hospitality industry for 26 years and has worked at a number of big hotels, including the Hilton, Southern Cross Hotel and Maroondah Sports Club.
