UPDATE: Publican Peter McCrae said some of the locals were angry to see the Huntly Pub close.
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Mr McCrae has been running the pub for six years.
“It’s the end of a short era, it's sad. It's hard, there's emotion there for sure,” he said.
“We've had great clientele in here but pubs are not cheap anymore. Now they’ve got nowhere to go.
“On the nights when (the locals) were on the lash, it was a great atmosphere. The sports clubs have also been great and we have loved every minute of it.”
The two nearest pubs are the Wellington Hotel in White Hills (6km away) and the Drovers Arms in Goornong (15km away).
The Huntly Pub was built in 1861 and was also known as the Victoria Hotel.
Mr McCrae said the pub needed a lot of work done when he took over.
“It was a dirty, rundown, filthy, bloody s**t-hole. The last bloke had dogs living in there,” he said.
“I used to work with the police and Aboriginal affairs before this and never thought of getting a pub.
“Now I got a good handle on it and I'm leaving.”
Despite the early challenges when he took over the lease, Mr McCrae was determined to see the pub become a success.
“It stressed me early. I thought I had taken on something I couldn't handle but we put our heads down and arses up and kept going,” he said.
“The locals supported me through early days. I didn't have enough glasses or a glass fridge and was serving hot pots but they knew (I was trying).
Mr McCrae said if someone was to establish a new pub in Huntly it could be a success.
“They'd have a good little business if someone builds a new one. When (new) houses get filled up out here especially,” he said.
EARLIER: The only pub in Huntly will close its doors for the last time on Friday.
A Facebook post to its loyal fans and regulars said the pub would close its doors after Friday’s service.
“We are writing this message with heavy hearts and hope you guys/girls have enjoyed the years as much as we have,” the post read.
Money raised from tonight’s weekly Cash Bonanza draws will be donated to the Leukemia Foundation.
More to come.