The big Stubby has made its long-awaited return to the Border Inn Hotel.
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The Border Inn Hotel’s iconic Big Stubby has returned to its rightful rooftop perch with a fresh facade following an extensive makeover.
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Removed in February, the oversized Carlton Draught bottle was taken to Signarama for refurbishments, and was expected back a short while later.
Its return was delayed due to renovations at the Moama hotel, extensive work to the stubby, including the addition of lights, and crane and traffic management availability.
Early on Tuesday, December 9, hotel managers Jane and David Bushell were joined by members of the Powell family to witness the beer’s rooftop touchdown.
Powell family members Susie, Adie, Rosemary, Leanne and Danny watched the Big Stubby touch down.
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The occasion coincided with the 35-year anniversary of the Powell family’s ownership of the hotel, which began with a lease in 1990.
Jim and Rosemary Powell, who raised their family on a farm near Berrigan, initially purchased the Taras Hall Hotel in 1987.
Rosemary’s brother, John Bennett, also known as JB, was an experienced hotel owner, and moved from Adelaide to join the pair in their new venture as publicans.
JB became the licensee at the Border Inn from 1990 to 2003, a venue he and Jim would flock to from Echuca as young men on Sundays due to Victoria’s early closure laws.
The Powells sold the Taras Hall in 1992, allowing everyone involved to focus on the one venue.
The Border Inn capitalised on a talented home-style cook throughout the 1990s who served classic dishes, some still available today.
With the Meninya St TAB moving to the inn in 1994 and gaming machines introduced to NSW hotels in 1997, the venue’s popularity continued to grow.
A two-year renovation was wrapped up in 2002 to accommodate for the evolving business, which came amid a busy time for the Powell family, with children getting married and grandchildren arriving.
Jim and Rosemary were fortunate to have a large family: five kids with 17 grandchildren, with all three generations involved in the hotel over the years.
The Powells purchased the Riverine Hotel ― known as the Moama Tavern at the time ― in 2005, operating it until a year before it was demolished in 2014.
Danny Powell became the Border Inn licensee in 2017, then Adrian Daly, the Powell family’s son-in-law, became the licensee until 2022 following Danny’s retirement.
In 2022, John Upham joined the Powell family as a business partner, and introduced David and Jane Bushell to manage the Border Inn.
JB was an integral part of the partnership and success of the 35-year strong family business.
Sadly, the family lost JB in recent years due to illness.
Rosemary Powell said she was proud of her family’s achievements, and while Moama had grown and changed over time, a tight-knit community remained.
“The Border Inn has always been a significant business and meeting place to the town,” she said.
“We have had so many wonderful staff, many are friends to myself and my family. We have also had many loyal customers that are also a big part of our Border Inn family, and our good friends.”
The inn has continued to evolve, with stage one of major renovations currently under way, and further upgrades planned next year.
The butcher and bike shops behind the Border Inn will be incorporated into stage two works, and the 24 motel rooms formerly attached to the Riverine Hotel will be turned into a new space.
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