Terminus Hotel - Abbotsford. Live Bands, Restaurant and Function Rooms.

The Terminus Hotel. 605 Victoria Street. Abbotsford. Victoria. 3067. Phone 03 9427 0615

Open 7 days.

The story so far...

the Terminus Hotel ages ago.... It all started about 150 years or so ago when ex convict Billy-Ray Humpanikel and his wife, Glady's, were at their local watering hole having a pleasant evening. Billy-Ray noted how busy it was, comparing it to their dying farm, mainly due to the fact that neither Billy-Ray nor Gladys were farmers. The very next day they picked a lot in sunny Abbotsford and built a Hotel, The Terminus Hotel.

Named the Terminus because it was the end of the tramline. People had to get off here and walk across a footbridge over the Yarra. The Hotel has changed hands many times during its 150 years and also grown in size. Its now over three times its original size. We don't know exactly when the major changes happened due to a rabbit rampage in the late 1950's in which all council records were eaten. This is what we have been able to find out, from asking old employees, old employers, old patrons, Wilson the ghost and old drunks on the street.

A couple of owners tried different approaches. They used to have strippers accompanied by sweet African beats here in the 70's and 80s. But the lady Licensee did a bunk up to Queensland in the middle of the night flogging all the takings, stock, fridges and leaving just masses of debt. The next owners tried Rockabillly, bikers and painting the joint bright red.

Surprisingly, the pub died in the arse and was home to just a few old dero's and paedophiles getting quietly pissed on the remaining slab of diet ale when in 1996 Fred Whitlock, Alison Whyte and their then mate Richard Savage, purchased The Terminus Hotel for a princely sum of a carton of Winfield Blues and a case of VB. They made bugger all changes to the bar. Just a quick lick of paint, a few minor repairs and filled the joint with cheap and bodgie furnishings from op shops. The design idea was to make it cosy and fun, just like the share houses they lived in. Besides, after forking out for the beer and ciggies to buy the joint they had bugger all dough left. Due to both Alison and Fred being actors and knowing how hard life can be, they offered free accommodation to struggling actors and work in the bar on their days off. In those glorious old days, it was usual to see an exhausted Fred doing everything, from cleaning the toilets, to kitchen-hand, repairs and maintenance, being bouncer, stocktaking and working the bar for a thousand hours a week. (Since then, the grumpy bastard has realised that it is far better for business if he doesn't work behind the bar). His partner Richard helped by lounging at the bar, getting pissed on light beer and fighting with our best customers. (It was soon realised that it was better for the business if Richard did some work).

Princess Alison contributed to the partnership by being glamorous and beautiful, (as she does to this day). As beer bubbled on through time, Richard bought the Healesville Hotel, but it was too much like hard work to lounge around and get pissed at two pubs at once. So Fred and Alison purchased his half of the Terminus off him. This time for the extortionate sum of 2 Cartons of Winfield Blues and 3 cases of VB!

The year 2000, the first of many small but major changes happened to the Hotel. First everything broke down; beer system, fridges, heating, plumbing, electrical; customers also fell through the floor while dancing. It was time for a reno! But have no fear brave reader! Ali and Fred spent a fortune doing things up, but you could hardly tell. It was the subtlest of works. Like the EH Holden that gets hotted up properly. It looks the same as Grandad's car, but underneath, WOW! The most noticeable change would be the redesign of the front bar. This new design was actually a copy of the original bar (which had been demolished in the 80's to make way for a tasteful salmon pink and grey number!).Then the actors who stayed and worked here while in the search for real jobs, actually landed real jobs... And hence the upstairs area was no longer being used.

So in 2004 upstairs was transformed into another bar and theatre space. Named the Ladies Lounge and Fred's Shed respectively. You might notice little changes here and there and everywhere BUT we are still the funny cosy little pub which we are famous for and will continue to be the bar you love year after year!

Cheers
The Terminus Hotel

P.S NO POKIES!!!!!

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The Terminus Hotel. 605 Victoria Street. Abbotsford. Victoria. 3067. Phone 03 9427 0615 Open 7 days.
The story so far... It all started about 150 years or so ago when ex convict Billy-Ray Humpanikel and his wife, Glady's, were at their local watering hole having a pleasant evening. Billy-Ray noted how busy it was, comparing it to their dying farm, mainly due to the fact that neither Billy-Ray nor Gladys were farmers. The very next day they picked a lot in sunny Abbotsford and built a Hotel, The Terminus Hotel. Named the Terminus because it was the end of the tramline. People had to get off here and walk across a footbridge over the Yarra. The Hotel has changed hands many times during its 150 years and also grown in size. Its now over three times its original size. We don't know exactly when the major changes happened due to a rabbit rampage in the late 1950's in which all council records were eaten. This is what we have been able to find out, from asking old employees, old employers, old patrons, Wilson the ghost and old drunks on the street. A couple of owners tried different approaches. They used to have strippers accompanied by sweet African beats here in the 70's and 80s. But the lady Licensee did a bunk up to Queensland in the middle of the night flogging all the takings, stock, fridges and leaving just masses of debt. The next owners tried Rockabillly, bikers and painting the joint bright red. Surprisingly, the pub died in the arse and was home to just a few old dero's and paedophiles getting quietly pissed on the remaining slab of diet ale when in 1996 Fred Whitlock, Alison Whyte and their then mate Richard Savage, purchased The Terminus Hotel for a princely sum of a carton of Winfield Blues and a case of VB. They made bugger all changes to the bar. Just a quick lick of paint, a few minor repairs and filled the joint with cheap and bodgie furnishings from op shops. The design idea was to make it cosy and fun, just like the share houses they lived in. Besides, after forking out for the beer and ciggies to buy the joint they had bugger all dough left. Due to both Alison and Fred being actors and knowing how hard life can be, they offered free accommodation to struggling actors and work in the bar on their days off. In those glorious old days, it was usual to see an exhausted Fred doing everything, from cleaning the toilets, to kitchen-hand, repairs and maintenance, being bouncer, stocktaking and working the bar for a thousand hours a week. (Since then, the grumpy bastard has realised that it is far better for business if he doesn't work behind the bar). His partner Richard helped by lounging at the bar, getting pissed on light beer and fighting with our best customers. (It was soon realised that it was better for the business if Richard did some work). Princess Alison contributed to the partnership by being glamorous and beautiful, (as she does to this day). As beer bubbled on through time, Richard bought the Healesville Hotel, but it was too much like hard work to lounge around and get pissed at two pubs at once. So Fred and Alison purchased his half of the Terminus off him. This time for the extortionate sum of 2 Cartons of Winfield Blues and 3 cases of VB! The year 2000, the first of many small but major changes happened to the Hotel. First everything broke down; beer system, fridges, heating, plumbing, electrical; customers also fell through the floor while dancing. It was time for a reno! But have no fear brave reader! Ali and Fred spent a fortune doing things up, but you could hardly tell. It was the subtlest of works. Like the EH Holden that gets hotted up properly. It looks the same as Grandad's car, but underneath, WOW! The most noticeable change would be the redesign of the front bar. This new design was actually a copy of the original bar (which had been demolished in the 80's to make way for a tasteful salmon pink and grey number!).Then the actors who stayed and worked here while in the search for real jobs, actually landed real jobs... And hence the upstairs area was no longer being used. So in 2004 upstairs was transformed into another bar and theatre space. Named the Ladies Lounge and Fred's Shed respectively. You might notice little changes here and there and everywhere BUT we are still the funny cosy little pub which we are famous for and will continue to be the bar you love year after year! Cheers The Terminus Hotel P.S NO POKIES!!!!!
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