A long-closed country pub could soon return to life. Plans are now before the local council for a major upgrade to the historic hotel.
The proposal would restore the building and its car park and reopen it as a gathering place for locals and visitors. The owner behind the plan calls the project a valuable asset for the town.
A plan to bring the hotel back
The building at the centre of the plan is the Romsey Hotel in Romsey, in the Macedon Ranges Shire. A planning application proposes an 8 million dollar upgrade to the long-closed pub.
The application is numbered PLN/2026/219. It seeks alterations and additions to the existing hotel and its car park. The plans provide for 17 car spaces on the site.
A planning application is the first formal step in a project like this. Alterations and additions mean changing and extending what is already there. The upgrade would touch both the building and the grounds. The council often asks for further information before it can weigh a proposal.
An upgrade of this size is a significant investment for a small town. It signals a fresh chapter for a building that has sat quiet for years.
The proposal is still in its early stages. It has not yet been decided whether Macedon Ranges councillors or council officers will decide the application. The council has requested further information from the applicant. The application cannot progress until that information is received. In some cases, elected councillors make the decision. In others, trained council officers decide. That choice has not been made yet for this application. Nothing is approved yet.
The main street of Romsey. Photo: Mattinbgn via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Image for reference only.
The man behind the plan
Hotelier Jim Hogan owns the site and the adjoining land. He is an experienced hotelier with a long record in the trade.
He previously had a long association with the historic Shamrock Hotel in Bendigo. He also rejuvenated the Wallan Hotel, now known as Hogan's Hotel.
Mr Hogan intends to run the new-look Romsey Hotel himself. He describes the pub as a valuable asset for the community. He brings experience from both of those hotels. He now wants to do the same in Romsey.
What is planned inside
The plans provide for far more than a bar. They include a cafe and bakery for early starts and light meals.
There is also a saloon bar and a private dining room. These would suit quieter meals and small gatherings.
Families are a clear focus of the design. A family bistro would offer casual dining, and a kids playroom would keep younger visitors happy.
For fine weather, the venue includes al fresco dining. For big occasions, a function room would suit weddings and other celebrations.
Together, these spaces would serve everyone from morning coffee to evening events. The mix is designed to appeal to many different visitors.
A boost for the local economy
Mr Hogan expects the revived venue to drive economic growth in the town. He sees it becoming a tourism drawcard for the area. Tourism drawcards bring outside spending into a town.
The benefits would reach beyond the pub itself. District tradespeople would get work during the build. When the project opens, casual, part-time and full-time jobs would become available.
New jobs matter in a small town. They give locals a reason to stay and visitors a reason to come. The build itself would put work into the local area first.
A long history on the corner
The Romsey Hotel has deep roots in the town. It was originally known as the Post Office Hotel and was first licensed in 1867.
It was renamed the Romsey Hotel in 1980. The building has carried two names across its long life. The corner site has been part of the town for a very long time. The town itself was once well served for hotels. In 1882, Romsey had six hotels.
The hotel closed in 2017. Since then, the prominent corner site has been the subject of community speculation about what would happen next.
What happens next
For now, the plan waits on the applicant. The council needs the further information it has requested before the application can move.
Once that information arrives, the application can progress. A decision will come later, from either the councillors or the council officers.
The process will run its course. The next step rests with the applicant. The council will consider it once the details are complete. Until then, the corner stays as it is. For locals who have watched the old pub sit empty since 2017, the wait continues a little longer. Residents will learn the outcome in time.
Conclusion
The Romsey Hotel could be about to write a new chapter. The proposal promises a full revival of a building that has stood in Romsey for generations.
If approved, the upgrade would bring new spaces, new jobs and new visitors to the town. It would turn a quiet corner back into a busy hub for the community. A reopened pub would also give the town a place to meet again.
For now, the details are on the table and the town is watching. Locals and visitors alike have a reason to keep an eye on what happens at the old pub.
To explore Romsey and the wider Macedon Ranges region in more depth, visit the Every Suburb Victoria guide.
Works Cited
West, Bill. "Multi-Million Pub Revival Plans." Midland Express, 15 Sept. 2026, https://midlandexpress.com.au/latest-news/2026/09/15/8-million-upgrade-proposed-for-long-closed-romsey-hotel/.