By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
LOCALS concerned about the historic Ostler’s House in Traralgon have nothing to worry about.
As the Kay Street-Grey St multi-level carpark etches closer to completion, some passing the beer garden of Hotel Traralgon (also known as Ryan’s Hotel) worried that the 130-year-old building at its rear could have been in the firing lines of the latest construction.
Latrobe City Council confirmed with the Express that the Ostler’s House, situated on private land, will not be affected by the carpark’s development.
The project is being built by local contractor BFN Developments, replacing the existing carpark which sits on council-owned land.
Those concerned possibly felt the issue was trekking back towards a level it was a decade ago, when past owner of Ryan’s Hotel, Mick Nicola pushed for the demolishment of the run-down building.
A petition was tabled by the Traralgon and District Historical Society in 2012 to retain the Ostler’s House, only for Mr Nicola to press harder.
After Latrobe City Council refused the bid to see the small brick building demolished and rebuilt at an alternate site, Mr Nicola then appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
VCAT ruled in favour of the Ostler’s House remaining where it is.
The building’s exact history has been a topic of debate for many decades, but what is known is that it was built around 1890 and is believed to be the oldest Traralgon brick
structure to stand in its original location.
However, it is uncertain what the Ostler’s House has been over time, initially utilised as a horse stable and then an office for a courthouse which was once on Grey St.
The term ‘ostler’ refers to a person who looks after horses at an inn.
Ryan’s Hotel was later constructed in 1914, built on the land where the Travellers Rest once was.
The Ostler’s House has been under local heritage overlay for close to 20 years.
