TUCKED between a dirt track and the winding Goulburn River, the Woods Point Hotel—also known as The Commercial Hotel—has once again proven that you don’t need city lights or a big postcode to earn statewide acclaim.
For the second year running, the bush pub has brought home gold from the AHA Vic State Awards for Excellence, this time clinching the coveted People’s Choice Award.
They were also a finalist for Bush Pub of the Year and the Local Legend Award.
Owners Luke and Carley Burdon, who run the historic hotel with the help of a small, tight-knit team, made the long drive from their remote High Country township—population: about 30—to Melbourne for the awards.
And just like last year, they returned home victorious.
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“We are just a small country pub, in a small town in the middle of nowhere," said Carley.
“We beat out the big pubs with big followings.”
"It's just unbelievable!”
With walls lined with rustic memorabilia, stained-glass lights, and a menu full of pub classics, the Commercial Hotel has become more than just a watering hole.
It’s a lifeline for a remote community and a welcome stop for dusty adventurers and travellers.
The Burdons and their handful of staff (and occasional family ring-ins) continue to punch above their weight, showing that authenticity, resilience, and community spirit are worth more than flash and fanfare.
It’s another proud moment for a small-town pub with a big heart.
