Marysville icons hit the market

A Marysville hotelier who fought off the flames on Black Saturday with a hose and bucket is calling last drinks on his beloved country inn.

Greg Cherry and partner Pamela Phillips are selling the Crossways Historic Country Inn at 4 Woods Point Road as they look to retire.

The listing comes as the popular tourist town’s old guard, including the long-time owner of the popular lolly shop, prepare for a new generation to take over a Marysville they believe is now better than it was.

Cherry stayed through the night on February 7, 2009, to keep the fires from his local landmark. The building was one of few to survive and is now believed to be the oldest commercial building left in town.

They also added the bar to the property, though did so in keeping with its history.

They’re hoping a new owner will reopen it for the public to enjoy.

The couple have restumped, rewired and updated it, but have never resumed operating it the way they had before the fires

“There’s a big following of people who love it here, hardly anyone walks in the door without just saying ‘oh my god’ and ‘wow’,” Phillips says.

“But I’m over 70 now, so cooking 150 meals on a Saturday is a bit much.”

For sale with a $1.4-$1.5 million asking price, the 2500sqm property also features several bed and breakfast cottages and is surrounded by gardens. The main building features two restaurant-style areas, a bar, function room and a commercial kitchen.

Julia Harris bought Marysville’s lolly shop in 2005 and rebuilt it after Black Saturday, but after selling the business a few years ago she’s now selling the building. Picture: Jay Town

There is also manager’s accommodation with a lounge room, kitchen and two bedrooms.

The couple have registered the Marysville Tavern business name and hope to see it reopen as a restaurant or local pub.

Ray White Rural’s Nik Patek said Marysville had resumed its position as Murrindindi Shire’s most prominent property market after dropping back following the fires.

“The main street now has a really nice feel about it,” Patek says.

“It’s more modernised, but there’s not a lot of evidence that it was burned out.”

The lolly shop downstairs is leased for the next five years.

Marysville’s Old Fashioned Lolly Shop owner Julia Harris turned her business over to another local about two years ago, but is now selling the freehold as well as her dream two-bedroom home upstairs.

Harris ran the store with a business partner from about 2005, but rebuilt it by herself at 8 Murchison Street after the fires — initially from a shipping container.

With a skate park and playground with a flying fox now over the road, Marysville is “back to better than before normal before the start of this year”.

“So now it’s a chance for young ones to take over,” Harris says.

Harris with her west highland terrier Wynnie in her two-bedroom home upstairs from Marysville’s much loved old fashioned lolly shop. Picture: Jay Town

With a $1.275 million asking price the property includes Harris’ current home, a two-bedroom unit above the shop with impressive raked ceilings, hardwood floors and a rear deck for entertaining in warmer weather.

The operator of the Old Fashioned Lolly Shop has a five-year lease and a five-year option.

Real Estate Yarra Valley’s Stuart Aldridge said with a secure tenant and a charming home upstairs, it would suit a full-time resident, holiday-home hunter or investor.

This article from the Herald Sun originally appeared as “Crossways Historic Country Inn, Marysville lolly shop site for sale”.