Historically Rough Inner-City Pub Completes Gentrification With Aesop Urinal Cakes

PETE CLARK | Melbourne | CONTACT

The Wombat Arms Hotel in North Fitzroy has finally completed the long process of gentrification after many decades.

Formally a rough and tumble pub, The Wombat Arms used to be a popular watering hole for the working class who actually used to live around this part of town.

Recently, the pub changed hands and is now operating under new management.

The new pub owner, who has actually managed to amass a small empire of upscale pubs in the area, has renovated the once glorious pub to entice the suburb's modern demographic; people who work in the city with vague jobs titles and earn in excess of 150K a year.

The Advocate spoke with Rex Baker, a bricklayer by trade and former bar fly before the takeover.

“I once saw a guy get glassed at the Wombat for having a beer on the felt,” he chuckled.

Mr Baker described his dismay about the venue's renovations.

“The place is totally unrecognisable, ordering a beer was a fucking nightmare, the bartender looked 15 and 50 at the same time and looked genuinely afraid when I ordered a pint of carlton.”

“Any place that has more IPA’s on tap than lagers and only serves schooners can get fucked.”

“No one was punching on, everyone was just calmly sitting in these comfortable looking booths playing chess.”

“The worst part was the bathroom actually smelled nice … I was horrified.”

Mr Baker reportedly downed his drink and headed a few suburbs north for the RSL where ‘things still made sense’.

More to come.