Fully licensed and adorned in all manner of art, this venue is as versatile as it is beautiful. Photo: Katie Pye/Greg Robson.
Stroll down Monaro Street in the little village of Wyndham, and you’ll find quite the unique canvas. Standing under the watchful gaze of Mount Darragh is the Robbie Burns Hotel — a heritage-listed venue with six bedrooms, five bathrooms, and 172 years of stories to tell.
This eclectic property was first brought to life by Robert Turbet and Mary Pickock.
Robert was a youth convicted of petty crime in Scotland, while Mary was an orphan of the potato famine in Ireland. Both were shipped out to Australia in 1850. They met in 1852, quickly married, and followed the gold rush south.
Their vision? To build a bustling tavern that would host travellers on their last stop before the Monaro. The couple’s first inn (The Scottish Chief) unfortunately burned to the ground, but in its place, the Robbie Burns Hotel was born.
The Turbets would go on to have 13 children, keeping the hotel in the family for generations. It eventually fell into disrepair, as some historic venues sadly do … that is, until acclaimed artist and fashion designer Katie Pye fell in love with its old bones.
Now boasting colour, texture, and detail galore on 5100 square metres of fertile land, the Robbie Burns Hotel is ready for the next chapter of its oh-so-storied life.
“The Robbie Burns has been the place where everyone wanted to go and the place left behind. When I came along, it was more of a haunt,” Katie says.
“But I saw the beautiful hardwood foundations. They reminded me of an old wooden boat, and I knew I could restore it. And so my job became re-establishing its beauty and place in the Wyndham community.
“I literally got down on my hands and knees with a toothbrush. Every nook and cranny had to be cleaned, restored, and welcomed back into the land of the living.”
Guests are welcomed over the bright-blue and yellow threshold into a speakeasy-style bar area. Coloured glass, pendant lighting and one of five open fireplaces on the property create a warm, intimate atmosphere.
Robbie Burns’ portrait still watches over the bar itself.
“The bar is almost the same as when I bought the place, sans taps. I’ve always said when this place has beer on tap once again, it should be a Robbie Burns brew created right here,” Katie says.
“I added a bay window with glorious coloured glass. Beneath it is a daybed I found on the streets of India, which I had restored and brought back to Australia.”
Beyond the bar is the expansive lounge and entertainment area, filled with all manner of couches, armchairs, and art pieces. Vintage chandeliers hang overhead. Katie says it’s a space designed for relaxation and self-expression.
“I have used the hotel as a canvas to build a beautiful and comforting retreat where people might like to stay a while,” she says.
“The Robbie Burns is a generational meeting place. Whoever walks through the front doors and however long they visit, this can be their home away from home.”
Next door is the formal dining room, with its brick fireplace and red velvet curtains. Classic timber French doors open up to the verandah, gardens, and Wyndham hills beyond.
Among Katie’s careful modern touches is the fully equipped commercial kitchen. Don’t worry — the original stove is still intact and proudly on display.
There’s a real opportunity here for the commercially minded. The venue has already proven popular for live music, boutique accommodation, workshops, retreats, and community events. The restaurant and bar are ready to be carried to new heights.
Outdoors, the ”garden of divine intoxication” is lush and thriving. There’s a stage area for music and speaking events, with established fruit trees, grapevines, and ferns all around.
Wyndham is a peaceful little village tucked between the escarpments of Mount Darragh and Jingera Rock, about three hours from Canberra and an hour and a half from the snowfields. The village has a quaint general store for all the essentials, and for anything extra, Bega is a scenic 40-minute drive away.
Katie will be sad to say goodbye to the Robbie Burns after 11 years as its loving custodian, but she’s confident the venue will bring real joy to whoever next calls it home.
“It was my thrill to take on this project and honour its history while leaving a little mark of my own behind. Now it’s time for me to move on to new horizons, closer to my children.
“The Robbie Burns Hotel will look after someone who loves food, music, and most of all, people. I know someone who gets the value of a place like this will serve it well!”
For more information on the Robbie Burns Hotel at 36 Monaro Street, Wyndham, contact Greg Robson.
