Toolangi Tavern

The Toolangi Hotel started out as a guest house during the 1890’s. Located on the southern side of the corner of Myers Creek road and then then Chum Creek Road (now known as Healesville Kinglake Road). It had splendid accommodation and was a picturesque setting.

In 1913, it became a licensed premises & served the community for the next 60 years. The property was destroyed by fire in 1975 and for the next thirty years, Toolangi remained without a pub. The property was sold in 1978 and there is a private residence now located on the site.

In the meantime, a resident living opposite the hotel decided to extend his small home to house a small grocery store. The extension was built in early 1970s and this operated until the mid 1990s when a liquor license was granted, which ensured Toolangi residents were able to buy their liquor locally for the first time in 20 odd years. Even though the locals were able to buy liquor they still had to take it home to drink it!

The general store struggled for years to survive, but eventually closed its doors in late 1999. Michelle Owen, a real estate representative visited Toolangi in 2001 to do a valuation and stumbled across the former general store. She immediately saw the potential the site had with the million dollar views of the surrounding forests and farmland.

After a search of the official registers it was discovered that the liquor license was “still alive” so the arrears of fees were quickly paid. The paperwork was completed by the end of 2001. After some partial renovations, the general store re-opened its doors on Australia Day 2002, much to the delight of locals!

Plans for the new Toolangi Tavern were drawn up building commenced in June 2005 and the grand opening took place on the 1st September 2006.