An icon in the heart of Shepparton
The Aussie – or the Australia Hotel as it was once formally known – is one of Shepparton’s best-known pubs, an icon right in the heart of town and a go-to for great food, live music and easy catch-up with friends.
The early years
The Aussie has an extraordinary birthday coming up in 2027: it’s turning 150.
For generations, the Aussie – under several different names – has held a special place in the heart of Shepparton.
Its story begins when brothers and carpenters James and Daniel Coghlan built and opened Coghlan’s Hotel on the corner of Fryers and Maude Street, Shepparton, in 1877; the name changed to the Union Hotel in 1897.
The Union Hotel was one of the earliest licensed hotels in the growing town when hotels served as key meeting places and stopping points for travellers.
An imposing two-story wooden structure, The Union was a fine example of a large Victorian-era country hotel, one of several inns and pubs that catered to travellers, workers and residents as Shepparton grew in the late-19th century.
Occupying a prominent corner site on Fryers Street, the hotel reflected the architectural style and commercial confidence of that era.
The site is a significant part of the story of Shepparton’s built heritage: early inns like The Union were critical in a town that grew from a rural service centre to a regional hub.
Today, you can see the outlines of the well from which the hotel would draw water in the early 20th century and the stables at the rear for travellers on horse or coach overnighting.
In 1929, the hotel’s name was changed to Hotel Australia. This reflected common practice at the time, with many regional hotels being rebranded during renovations or as ownership changed.
Over the past 40 years, the name evolved into the name all locals know it as: the Aussie Hotel.
The Phillips family legacy
The Phillips family has a deep connection with the Aussie Hotel, running it for 37 years until the family sold the hotel in 1979.
It was a true family affair. Shepparton local Paul Phillips lived in the hotel for the first 19 years of his life, from 1960. His grandfather, Tom Phillips, ran it from around 1944, and the hotel became home to the Phillips family in mid-1945.
In the 1960s, Paul’s father, Don Phillips, ran it with his four brothers Jack, Reg, Laurie and Brian.
Paul remembers the days of six o’clock closing. “From 5pm there would be a huge crowd of blokes drinking beer before things had to be wound up at 6,” Paul says. For a young bloke, “it was an amazing sight.”
He remembers as a 12-year-old during school holidays helping his uncle Brian at the railway station, picking up a delivery of 18-gallon kegs which had arrived by rail.
“It was a great meeting place,” Paul remembers of The Aussie back then. “It was a place to meet friends, and a lot of people met their wives and husbands there.”
Paul remembers his grandfather and uncles being generous to local sporting, harness and racing clubs, as well as supporting those in the town who were struggling and needed a hand.
In December 2025, the Phillips family – 100-people strong – had a reunion in Shepparton, beginning celebrations with Friday drinks at The Aussie.
A classic pub, still going strong
The Aussie Hotel is family-friendly and offers hearty meals, live music, community events and sports screenings.
Whether you’re catching up with friends for lunch, gathering for a family dinner or enjoying a sip in the beer garden, there is always a reason to pull up a chair at The Aussie.
The Aussie is open for lunch and dinner every day, with plenty of options whether you’re grabbing something quick or settling in for a proper pub meal. With all-day dining, plus weekly specials and a kids’ menu – no one leaves hungry.
From relaxed dining spaces and a lively bar pouring refreshing beers, wines and cocktails to regular live entertainment and live sport on the big screens, The Aussie delivers everything you want from a classic local all in one spot. Come by and see for yourself why The Aussie is one of Shepparton’s most loved pubs.
Our community
A much-loved part of the daily life of Shepparton – a thriving town with 25,000 residents and 50,000 living in the region – The Aussie stands grandly on one of Shepparton’s busiest corners.
While much has changed since 1898, the front entrance and the two side entrances retain the original framework.
At the Aussie, there have been nearly 150 years of stories, with many more to come.
