Robinvale Hotel Set for Demolition After Standing Derelict for More Than a Decade
By Chloe · Published 30 Oct 2026 · Updated 30 Oct 2026
Robinvale, VIC
Safety note: Admin approval is an initial review, not a guarantee that every detail is correct. Check important or urgent claims with official sources and report anything inaccurate or unsafe.
Source and credit: Contributor's own report
Robinvale Hotel Set for Demolition After Standing Derelict for More Than a Decade - Robinvale, VIC
Smart summary
Swan Hill Rural City Council will demolish the historic Robinvale Hotel after an independent engineering assessment found the fire-damaged building unsafe.
A historic hotel in the Victorian border town of Robinvale is set to be demolished, ending years of uncertainty over the future of one of the community's most recognisable buildings.
The Robinvale Hotel was built in 1928 and stood as an important part of the town's history for almost nine decades. The Spanish Mission-style building, known for its distinctive architecture and Canary Island palm trees, was a popular meeting place for residents and an attraction for visitors to the region.
However, a major fire in 2015 extensively damaged the hotel. Since then, the building has remained empty and deteriorated in the centre of Robinvale. More than ten years after the fire, the damaged structure has become a continuing concern for residents and local authorities.
Swan Hill Rural City Council has now decided to take action. The council voted this week to step in and arrange the demolition after an independent structural engineering assessment found the building to be critically unsafe.
The council had been working with the property's owner for an extended period to address the condition of the structure. A building notice and a subsequent building order were issued, giving the owner time to undertake the necessary safety work. According to the council, the permitted timeframe has expired, allowing it to proceed with the required work under the Building Act.
Mayor Stuart King said public safety was the council's main priority. The deteriorating building is close to the street, and a safety exclusion zone had already been established on Perrin Street earlier in the year. This also forced pedestrians to take a different route around the site.
The decision has been welcomed by some residents who want the unsafe structure removed, but others had hoped the historic building could be preserved. Former local resident Anniemae Goldring previously launched a petition opposing demolition. She has personal memories of spending time at the hotel with her grandmother, who worked there.
Although she is disappointed that the building could not be saved, she acknowledged that the town needs progress after years of uncertainty.
The demolition could begin as early as November 2026. The council has also said that the adjoining bottle shop will undergo a separate structural assessment once the main hotel building has been removed.
The future of the site has not yet been confirmed. The council says any new development may need to meet heritage-related planning conditions. Local residents and nearby businesses will be watching to see whether the cleared site eventually becomes a new community facility or another development.
For Robinvale, the demolition marks the end of a long chapter in the town's history. While removing the damaged hotel addresses an important safety concern, many residents hope the site will eventually contribute positively to the town rather than remain an empty space.
BuildingCouncilHotelBeenDemolition
A historic hotel in the Victorian border town of Robinvale is set to be demolished, ending years of uncertainty over the future of one of the community's most recognisable buildings.
The Robinvale Hotel was built in 1928 and stood as an important part of the town's history for almost nine decades. The Spanish Mission-style building, known for its distinctive architecture and Canary Island palm trees, was a popular meeting place for residents and an attraction for visitors to the region.
However, a major fire in 2015 extensively damaged the hotel. Since then, the building has remained empty and deteriorated in the centre of Robinvale. More than ten years after the fire, the damaged structure has become a continuing concern for residents and local authorities.
Swan Hill Rural City Council has now decided to take action. The council voted this week to step in and arrange the demolition after an independent structural engineering assessment found the building to be critically unsafe.
The council had been working with the property's owner for an extended period to address the condition of the structure. A building notice and a subsequent building order were issued, giving the owner time to undertake the necessary safety work. According to the council, the permitted timeframe has expired, allowing it to proceed with the required work under the Building Act.
Mayor Stuart King said public safety was the council's main priority. The deteriorating building is close to the street, and a safety exclusion zone had already been established on Perrin Street earlier in the year. This also forced pedestrians to take a different route around the site.
The decision has been welcomed by some residents who want the unsafe structure removed, but others had hoped the historic building could be preserved. Former local resident Anniemae Goldring previously launched a petition opposing demolition. She has personal memories of spending time at the hotel with her grandmother, who worked there.
Although she is disappointed that the building could not be saved, she acknowledged that the town needs progress after years of uncertainty.
The demolition could begin as early as November 2026. The council has also said that the adjoining bottle shop will undergo a separate structural assessment once the main hotel building has been removed.
The future of the site has not yet been confirmed. The council says any new development may need to meet heritage-related planning conditions. Local residents and nearby businesses will be watching to see whether the cleared site eventually becomes a new community facility or another development.
For Robinvale, the demolition marks the end of a long chapter in the town's history. While removing the damaged hotel addresses an important safety concern, many residents hope the site will eventually contribute positively to the town rather than remain an empty space.
A fisherman escaped unharmed after a large crocodile climbed onto his boat while he was fishing alone on the Mary River, prompting renewed safety warnin...
A bill to prohibit conversion practices has passed Tasmania’s lower house, marking a significant step in the state’s debate over protections for LGBTQIA...
Re-elected Devonport mayor Alison Jarman has made council amalgamation a priority, arguing that neighbouring local governments could take cooperation a...
Plans to resume offshore sediment disposal near Magnetic Island have prompted concern from marine scientists and local tourism operators, who warn that...
A fisherman escaped unharmed after a large crocodile climbed onto his boat while he was fishing alone on the Mary River, prompting renewed safety warnin...
A filmmaker from Bourke in western New South Wales has taken over leadership of an Indigenous film festival in Paris, creating an opportunity to bring A...
Concerns are growing over the reliability and availability of Australia's public electric vehicle charging network, with thousands of charging points po...
Indigenous women are using traditional weaving and craft-making to strengthen cultural connections, preserve knowledge passed down through generations a...
A freedom of information request has revealed that Gold Coast Council does not hold a copy of the invoice for Mayor Tom Tate's three-day stay at Donald...
Eight people have died in separate road crashes across Victoria during the Melbourne Cup long weekend, with four of the fatal incidents involving motorc...
A fisherman escaped unharmed after a large crocodile climbed onto his boat while he was fishing alone on the Mary River, prompting renewed safety warnin...
