- 9 hours ago
Ooops! I Bought a Pub - Season 1 Episode 1
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00:05apparently the Australian dream is to own your own home but I beg to differ because whenever I
00:11ask someone in Australia they all seem to say the same thing own your own pub mate and I reckon
00:18they're right so I'm about to find out if that is the great Australian dream or in fact an absolute
00:24nightmare because a mate of mine Dean Murphy who's a movie director that I've worked with
00:29quite a lot convince me to buy a pub what's the pub like I hear you say well that's the
00:37interesting
00:37thing I have absolutely no idea because I've never actually seen the pub other than the real
00:42estate ad online yeah um that's stupid it's his fault it is your fault well see uh well Dean and
00:52I have worked together on three films together a couple of musicals or plays yes and about three
01:00or so TV shows yeah so to say we're mates would be a fair statement okay well I think we're
01:06mates I'm
01:07pretty sure we are we were emailing each other about a project we were working on and at the bottom
01:12of
01:12the email Dean wrote oh by the way have you ever thought about buying a pub I hit send and
01:19as I hit
01:19send the phone rang and it's you going pub well what I said was Dean Murphy what the hell are
01:26you
01:26talking about buying a pub probably worth noting that Dean's never had a drink of alcohol in your
01:32life have you no and you said I'll never forget it well it's not just any pub it's the Datorang
01:37Hotel
01:39so where's Datorang you ask well it's nestled in a valley roughly halfway between Melbourne and
01:44Canberra surrounded by stunning mountains and lush farmland why the Datorang Hotel I'll leave that to
01:52Dean to explain hmm I grew up 15 minutes from here and had come to this pub since I was
01:58a kid and had
01:58seen how important it is to the community and we heard that had been on the market for about a
02:03year
02:03and that Dave the owner had been basically knocking back offers because they're either coming from
02:09overseas companies or the big companies in Australia that he didn't feel had a connection to the
02:15community that's what I said to Shane you know got a pub I think we might have to buy spent
02:20about 10
02:21minutes explaining why it's important and you said all right let's do it I'm about to find out if I've
02:28made a good decision what could possibly go wrong here she is and ain't she a beauty
02:41I'm meeting the guy who runs and owns the pub Dave McKnight he's a ripper bloke but I've only
02:47actually spoken to him on the phone so I have no idea what he looks like I'm pretty sure that's
02:52not
02:52him there hopefully I can just ask some of the patrons that point him out it's nearly lunchtime
02:59so there should be a good crowd in here by now hello you there Dave so if this is what
03:14everybody
03:15loving the pub looks like hello I'd hate to see what it'd look like if they didn't you there Dave
03:23well the place certainly has a ton of character it's one of those places where you instantly feel
03:29at home no I mean I've only been here for 30 seconds and I already feel like a beer you
03:36there Dave but
03:38where are all the people maybe they want to surprise me they're all out the back hello I think I
03:46found
03:47the manager's quarters as well as some guest rooms quite a lot of guest rooms man this place is like
03:53a maze heading out the back I've made another exciting discovery this place is massive got cabins
04:04but still not a soul to be seen maybe the cows know where everyone is if only they could talk
04:11maybe the cow knows the owner what have you heard get it heard nah this is not a good start
04:18to my pub
04:19partnership journey
04:22in the key was something bright ahead always open to me and all my friends
04:34harmony oh harmony oh now we're home in the country
04:48so I'd never heard of the pub never seen the pub never heard of Datorang and uh and while I'm
04:53looking on the computer going oh yeah my wife walked in and saw this and said what's all this
04:59about and I said oh it's Murph on the phone hi Murph how are you he's talking about us buying
05:03this pub
05:04and I'm thinking no partner's going to go all right let's buy a pub at a whim and while I'm
05:08talking
05:09to Dean she's got the mouse and she's flicking through the photos and about six photos in she said
05:14I love it and I said are we buying a pub she said it looks like it you there Dave
05:21but I'm not sure
05:23she's going to love it when I tell her it has no customers first day I got here uh I
05:28was expecting
05:28to see a pretty busy pub when I walked and there was no one here and so I got a
05:33little bit nervous
05:35the Datorang Hotel a stalwart of the Kiwa Valley for over 150 years
05:40you there Dave known for its fiercely loyal patrons
05:44Dave but maybe that's due to their love for the publican Dave McKnight
05:49most loved person I've ever met like genuinely loved not just adored as a celebrity or whatever but
05:56never heard a bad word about him ever people have said they're hard shoes to fill if not impossible
06:03did they find out the pub's got a new owner and high tail it out of here
06:08if only I could find Dave
06:13Shane how are you mate Dave hey mate how you doing good Jane how are you going I'm great
06:19mate this has taken a while we've been talking for ages but here we are
06:23I know I've heard so much about you and of course seen you doing a few movies
06:27don't believe what they say
06:28I've actually had a walk through the place I couldn't find you
06:32it's bigger than than I thought as in I know you've shown me the plans and I've looked at it
06:37online but it's every room you go to leads to another room it's like it's like a TARDIS
06:42there's rooms everywhere
06:43there is it's surprising what when you're in the bar you don't know how big it is out the back
06:47yeah and mate the location again I've seen photos of it and I've looked online but we are surrounded
06:55by the mountains they're stunning they are yeah they're incredible
06:59it is it is and and winter that we can get snow on the hills up above us and it's
07:04it's a great what
07:05a great place to live and the snow does is it like another world is it almost like being in
07:10Switzerland I imagine it is yeah it's a beautiful spot and you've been here 35 years has it been
07:16has it been the best way to live a life it has been it has been yeah great place to
07:20live and
07:21great community like I couldn't have asked for about the last 35 years the place is better than
07:28I'd imagine as I said the location is out of this world but there is there is one question which
07:32is
07:33where's all the people well we're in a fair bit of competition at the moment we've got competition
07:38we have yeah we're about it's just up the road you just you want to go up and have a
07:42look if you
07:43like all right well I'll I'll go and look at the competition I'll be back okay all right okay up
07:47that
07:48way one kilometre all right mate I'll I'll be back soon on your show all right mate it's about a
07:53k
07:53about a k competition Dean never mentioned we're at competition
08:01uh-oh that's Fliss my wife wanting an update hey Dale you're good good good good yeah yeah yeah I'm
08:10here yeah I've just been just been through the pub it's it's better than it's better than the
08:16pictures to be honest what's that uh including me and Dave uh then there would have been uh two
08:28no that's that was including me and Dave yeah not a soul
08:35after 10 minutes on the phone with my wife trying to convince me to keep the faith and maybe breathe
08:40a little the truth was I was still holding my breath but at least until I could see what was
08:45going on down the road competition he reckons is this it let's go at this when Dave said there
08:54was a fair bit of competition man he wasn't kidding yep that's competition all right
09:09with Dave's words we've got competition still ringing in my ears
09:14I find myself driving towards an ever-increasing crowd oh no wonder there's no one at the top
09:21hopefully Victoria's here hi mate how you going how you going how you doing mate yeah so uh looks like
09:27there's a bit of an event on here there is a bit of a uh race day here how often
09:31are you a betting man
09:34uh I bet I can guess what kind of race it is is it a horse race it is there
09:37we go see you're on the
09:38money I'm going right aren't I I actually thought I was going to go up the road and see another
09:43pub
09:43so I get up there and there's thousands of people at the Datorang race track for those that don't
09:48right now because I now know the Datorang races happen but once a year and let me tell you it's
09:54quite a day
10:07there's a lot of people here
10:13the locals tell me this is the 160th anniversary of the Datorang Cup as it was first run back in
10:191865 on the private property of William Steele who built the track with the help of local settlers
10:25all because of his love for horse racing
10:37held once a year people come from miles around to enjoy this fantastic day out
10:43the atmosphere is amazing and everyone seems to be having a good time and spirits are high to say
10:49the very least
10:57so while everyone's feeling the love this might be the best opportunity to break the news
11:02the Datorang has a new owner
11:04I was terrified because again it goes back to how incredibly loved Dave McKnight is in this area
11:13as the existing and long time publican and I thought gosh what if they go oh not that idiot actor
11:20from
11:20Melbourne and not that guy from the shit flick
11:23so a little bit of a special announcement as many people will know Dave's been trying to sell the pub
11:30for a few years now
11:31and we have a special guest at the races who might have a little bit of news for us on
11:38that
11:38it's either going to be cheers and beers or it's going to be pitchforks and watching this fat fella
11:44break the course record as I run for my life
11:46how are we doing?
11:49so yeah I do have a bit of an announcement
11:51uh today's been a bit of a first for me
11:53this is the first time I've been to Datorang and the place is fantastic am I right?
11:59unbelievable
12:00it's also the first time I've ever been to the Datorang races
12:03what a great day am I right?
12:06yes
12:07but there's one more first
12:08and that is the first time that I get to announce to you
12:11I just brought the Datorang pub
12:19you got up and said we brought a pub
12:23I did
12:25but we bought a pub
12:27and on that day we brought it to their attention
12:31I got it right didn't I?
12:33see
12:33see I'm learning
12:34aren't you impressed?
12:36well
12:36that went down better than I expected
12:38you'll be pleased to know it's not just a guy from the city coming up here trying to have a
12:42crack at it
12:42there's locals involved
12:43um so uh a mate of mine Dean Murphy
12:46his family's been in the area for a very long while
12:48uh and he was the one that rang me and said uh
12:50have you ever been interested in buying a pub?
12:53and I said I've only ever been interested in buying a pub
12:55um he said have you heard of Datorang?
12:58I said it's funny you should say that
12:59no
13:00so I said where the hell's that?
13:02and he uh explained where the ranger was
13:04it's the meeting place
13:05it's where people share their stories
13:06they might share a tear
13:07need a shoulder
13:08need an ear
13:09or want to tell a yarn
13:10so uh it'll be that place forever I assure you
13:13that's around
13:14it was Dave who said to us
13:15can you please let everyone know
13:17because the locals were panicking
13:18that the pub was going to shut down
13:20and he was saying to them
13:21yeah I've had enough
13:22I'm just going to shut the doors
13:23and they're going no you can't do that
13:25and they're all starting to really panic
13:27he was joking of course
13:28but we were already contracting
13:29and the whole process was underway
13:31and he was just not letting them
13:32letting them know
13:33I hope to be at the ranger with you
13:35and share a beer
13:36take care look after yourselves Ian
13:37thank you
13:40turns out yours truly has made a bit of a name
13:43for myself up here
13:43thanks to a certain plumber mate of mine
13:47hey mate how you going
13:48good to see you
13:50Kenny you're a legend
13:51I love you
13:52we fitted one inch plumbing
13:53someone having a two inch arse
13:55he does it better than I do
13:58it was an incredibly warm response
14:00which was which was a good start
14:02and then once we heard that
14:03we went oh damn
14:04now we've got to keep them happy
14:05and that was the hard bit
14:07to make sure we didn't let them down
14:08like this pub is like our family's lifeline
14:11Deterang is a very special place
14:14we love everything you do
14:15thank you
14:16thank you very much
14:17love what you're doing
14:18drinking and gambling
14:20you can tell by the reaction of the locals
14:22that the Deterang Hotel
14:23is so much more than just a great place
14:25to get good beers and a palmer
14:26and Dave and Wendy have done so much more
14:28than just serve drinks
14:29he's done such a great job
14:31it's their hard shoes to fill
14:33yeah yeah
14:34you won't fill them
14:35no
14:35no
14:36it's so exciting
14:37I'll see you there
14:38are you staying locally here
14:40oh yeah
14:40we always stay at Dave's Place
14:42the back of the Deterang Hotel
14:43you're staying at the back of the Deterang Hotel
14:45every year
14:46fantastic
14:47everyone seems excited about the prospects for the pub
14:50and they're not backwards in coming forwards
14:53about their ideas and potential events
14:55they'd like to see there
14:56you're going to get married here
14:57and you want your reception at the Deterang pub
14:59yeah we're right at the Deterang
15:00as you may have just heard
15:01I may know someone that owns the pub
15:05how can I say no
15:07hope I'm the promising more than I can deliver
15:10I have a feeling I'm about to get my first taste
15:12of a big night at the Ranger
15:15have a feeling a few of these people end up at the pub
15:17is that fair to say
15:18uh
15:18yep
15:26with the last race of the Deterang Cup done
15:29now it's a race to the pub
15:31so the first night I was here
15:34was the night of the Deterang races
15:36and for those that don't know
15:37the Deterang races only happen
15:38one and a half clicks up the road
15:40when I said to Murph
15:41do many of those people come down to the pub
15:42he said yeah
15:43he said yeah
15:44a few of those people head down to the pub
15:46when I got to the pub that night
15:47he was right
15:49quite a few people come to the pub
15:55what was an empty shell only a few hours ago
15:57is now a throbbing throng of about 500 people
16:01it's standing room only
16:02and the staff are run off their feet
16:07yeah race night at the pub
16:08I mean don't get me wrong
16:09I've been to busy pubs in my life
16:11and been to nightclubs when I was younger
16:13but I'm not sure anything prepared me
16:16for what it's like here at the Deterang Hotel
16:18on the night of the races
16:22people were happy for Dave that he'd finally sold it
16:25but then they bailed us up
16:28and said great congratulations
16:30and then started telling us
16:32what we had to do basically
16:34and it was
16:35don't change a thing
16:37and we'd go yep
16:38and I'd go seriously
16:40don't change a thing
16:41leave it exactly the way it is
16:48I think this morning
16:49I was worried there wasn't going to be enough people
16:51now I think we're going to have to make the pub bigger
16:54Hoolie Dooley
17:09by the time all the contracting was completed
17:12a thick fog had descended over the valley
17:15race day was merely a distant memory now
17:17as peace and tranquility takes over
17:20it's time to discuss what we need to do
17:23to bring the wringer into the 21st century
17:28so the idea at the front here
17:30what I was thinking
17:31Dean already has a pretty clear vision
17:34of what needs to be done
17:35because he knew the pub so well
17:37and had been here so often
17:39you had a real idea of vision in your head early
17:42and to be honest we agree
17:44pretty quickly on most things
17:47the problem is when we don't agree
17:49Dean somehow has a way of talking me into stuff
17:51see here how running from an angry bull
17:54this was Dean's idea
17:56as was nearly getting killed in a very small plane
17:59with Hoges and Roy Billing
18:00that was a bit of fun
18:03insulting a legend
18:04some people say Paul Hogan can't act
18:08I'm sorry I've misread that
18:10everyone says Paul Hogan can't act
18:14insult another legend
18:16he's an icon
18:17he's barely alive
18:18so we'd better get on with it
18:20please welcome
18:21the one
18:22and only
18:23John Cleese
18:24and he loves getting me singing and dancing
18:28every morning I sit upon my throne
18:30and think about all the land I own
18:33and singing
18:33yep
18:34fair to say
18:35he can talk me into all kinds of stuff
18:36but here's the thing
18:37he hardly ever actually talks
18:41the hardest part to tell is
18:43if Dean doesn't agree
18:44Dean doesn't say no
18:46he goes
18:47eh
18:47is that fair to say?
18:49eh
18:50oh
18:51I'm wondering whether we move this shed
18:54and he's at it again
18:56the shipping container's going
18:58now that he is talking
18:59I think I preferred it when he was quiet
19:01just move it that way
19:03three metres
19:04I thought we were just going to give the place a spit and polish
19:07but Dean has other plans
19:09do you want to get rid of it
19:11can it go somewhere
19:12on the back of the block somewhere
19:13before you know it
19:13our colleague Matt has turned up
19:15and he's also making expensive suggestions
19:17these doors are four panels
19:18so two either side
19:20so you get two opening in the middle
19:21this toilet goes
19:22of course
19:23the first issue
19:24yep
19:25you guessed it
19:26the toilet plumbing
19:27well when it got put in
19:28Dave said it was
19:29for 300 or 400
19:30I think
19:32capacity
19:32but apparently
19:33they now judge it on pans
19:35how many pans you have
19:36yes
19:37it would surprise me
19:38that we have the same size system here
19:40that I've got in my own home
19:41based on the individual owner
19:43it's me
19:43they had a look at me
19:44and went
19:44Jesus
19:46well these tent pans
19:47commercial
19:48commercial one for Shane
19:49I thought I knew enough
19:51about septic tanks
19:53turns out
19:54I had
19:55so much more to learn
19:57then we had our builder
19:58Andrew and draftsman
19:59Peter turn up
20:00you sent us
20:00the nasty
20:01soil test
20:02that said
20:03we've got a very reactive
20:04soil here
20:05and I don't think
20:06their ideas
20:07sound cheap either
20:09it's under here
20:09so you're getting
20:11a learning on plumbing
20:12here from Kenny
20:12aren't you
20:13I know
20:13I know a little bit about it
20:15I know more than I care to admit
20:16but
20:17it was too late
20:18to back out now
20:19the sheeting
20:19is asbestos
20:22oh boy
20:23something tells me
20:24we're in for one
20:25hell of a ride
20:28we bought a pub
20:29what could possibly
20:30go wrong
20:30salad bars
20:31a bit of a healthy shit
20:32the floorboard
20:33been laid on dirt
20:34you know
20:34sort of the whole thing
20:35out
20:35has he bitten off
20:37more than he can chew
20:39new
20:40oops I bought a pub
20:41next Saturday
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