Chiltern: Ironbark Bistro & Tavern where Disney movie ‘Ride a Wild Pony’ was filmed hits the market

The Ironbark Bistro & Tavern at 41-43 Conness St, Chiltern, dates back to the 1800s.

A Victorian tavern and house with a colourful history as both a Gold Rush-era brothel and Disney film set has come up for sale.

The Ironbark Bistro, Tavern & Residence is located at 41-43 Conness St, Chiltern, a small town in the state’s northeast about 32km from Wodonga.

Owners Stephen and Carmen Ottaway, a chef, purchased the circa-1869 hotel and 1891-built house almost eight years ago with the aim of running a business together.

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Mr Ottaway said the property was in a rather sorry state when they first saw it.

The house had spent about three decades being used for storage and the pub itself had been shut since briefly reopening in the 1990s.

“There were two big props holding up the house’s second floor,” Mr Ottaway said.

“But it had the bones of a beautiful historical building and a lot of character.”

The bistro’s bars were replaced during the renovation.

Before and after pictures showcasing the house’s transformation.

The couple embarked on a major renovation including restumping the two-bedroom house and renewing the internal frame, floors, walls, plumbing and wiring.

A new mantle was installed above the living area’s original fireplace and a spa in the bathroom.

“We had the original nice red bricks cleaned, polished and sealed,” Mr Ottaway said.

A local resident complied this photo board of Chiltern locations used in the 1975 Disney film Ride a Wild Pony. Picture: Supplied

The bistro and tavern is a popular music venue.

The hotel’s structure has remained much the same apart from the knocking down of an internal wall between two kitchens, to create a larger single commercial kitchen with stainless-steel walls, a pizza oven and wok burner.

The original polished floorboards and skylights remain in the bistro.

There’s also a separate cocktail bar, open beer garden with a pot belly fire, annexed coolroom and 80-panel solar system.

More before and after pictures of the venue.

Inside retains the period character of the original buildings.

While researching the hotel’s past, Mr Ottaway discovered the house had formerly been a pool hall and brothel during the Gold Rush when Chiltern’s population swelled to about 20,000 people.

“Apparently there was a bolthole underneath the house with a tunnel which led from the pub next door so gentleman could go to the brothel without being seen,” Mr Ottaway said.

The beer garden hosts band and musicians in warmer weather.

The large commercial kitchen had a new extraction system installed during the renovation.

However, the tunnel has since been filled in and the entrance covered.

More recently, the hotel featured in the 1975 Disney film ‘Ride a Wild Pony’, starring actors Michael Craig from the television series Doctor Who, G.P., Brides of Christ, Grass Roots and Always Greener, and John Meillon from Crocodile Dundee the films.

The pub played the part of the movie’s Barambogie Crystal Palace Cinema.

The property sits on 632sq m.

Actor Michael Craig starred in Disney’s Ride a Wild Pony in 1975. He also appeared in several movies and television shows, winning the 1991 Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor for his role in the ABC program G.P.

Mr Ottaway said nowadays, the tavern was a well-known music venue with monthly jam sessions and band performing outdoors in the beer garden and sheds.

One of the sheds features a painted mural of local musicians.

“I’ve got the best job in town,” Mr Ottaway said.

“I’m standing here behind the bar with live music being played and when everyone joins in singing and dancing, it’s like the old Irish pubs in the movies.”

From an old storage space to a spacious house, the difference between the pre and post-renovated home is striking.

A bathroom with a glam mirror.

The mural in the tavern’s shed performance space was painted by a local artist. Picture: Supplied

Mr Ottaway said he and Carmen loved Chiltern and running the business, but were selling up with plans to move closer to family since the birth of their granddaughter.

@realty Sunshine’s Aaron Jay Camilleri said whoever purchased the property would be buying a slice of Australian history.

“The amount of stories and history that’s in the place is incredible,” Mr Mr Camilleri.

Chiltern’s well-preserved 19th century streetscape, including Conness St, was often described as “the most photographed street in Victoria” and has featured in several films, he added.

The Ironbark Bistro, Tavern & Residence is for sale with a $850,000-$900,000 price guide.

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