A pub facing the risk of having its roof ripped off because a huge historic Australian flag is hoisted on it is hoping ‘common sense’ will prevail to prevent it.
The Caledonian Hotel in the town of Singleton in the NSW Hunter region, northwest of Sydney, has also been threatened with a $500,000 fine for the offending flag.
The huge design, featuring a prominent Union Jack in the corner of the red tin roof with a prominent Confederation star below and a depiction of the Southern Cross, was Australia’s first unofficial flag.
The Caledonian Hotel has been threatened with demolition over the unauthorized Australian flag it displays on its roof
Singleton Council says it’s an unauthorized structure on top of a listed building and is at risk of demolition, but it’s unclear if that means just the roof or the building as a whole.
A spokesman for the hotel said they never intended to get into an argument.
“There is no fight against the council,” the spokesman said.
“We never thought that to raise the Australian flag we would have to submit a development application. Hopefully common sense prevails and we all walk away happy.”
The spokesman said the flag is a symbol of freedom.
“The flag is the original Australian constitutional flag from the 1900s,” the spokesman said.
The pub, which has become known for defying Covid restrictions, says it has received overwhelming public support
“Australians fought under this flag in the world wars. So it’s about what it represents. It’s about what represents Australia.”
The Caledonian Hotel became a rallying point for people who spoke out against Covid restrictions on eating places last year, citing innkeeper Brad Hill into a bitter feud with Sydney’s shock jock Ray Hadley.
Hadley continued to answer the character’s rhetorical question while addressing Mr Hill.
“Ray is the nuisance that’s going to drive you insane until you start following the health code,” Hadley said.
“Ray will continue to do what he has done in the past, hold you accountable you idiot.”
The hotel spokesman said the venue’s stance had been misrepresented by the media.
The pub and its owner fell into a feud with Sydney talkback radio host Ray Hadley over his breach of Covid regulations, which resulted in a $1000 fine
“We are not anti-vaccination. We are for freedom of choice,” said the spokesman.
“The freedom to choose, the government has too much power and it should never have had that power.
“The freedom of choice, the freedom to choose what basically goes into your body. You should be able to choose not to be forced.’
The flag was created by local roofers and painters in January after Mr Hill was fined $1000 in December for serving people unvaccinated during October’s Covid restrictions.
Ray Hadley, the morning presenter for Sydney radio station 2GB, claimed to have tipped off police.
Emotions ran high on the Caledonian Hotel’s Facebook page as the pub prepared to meet with the council
In response, the hotel hung a sign at its venue that read, “Who is Ray?” The talkback show’s host sprayed furiously at Mr Hill, calling him an on-air profanity.
In the latest post on its Facebook page addressing the issue, the hotel says it has received “overwhelming support in relation to the traditional Australian flag which is proudly displayed on the roof of our hotel”.
The hotel said it is meeting with the council next week to ask for assistance “with a development proposal that will hopefully help resolve the current issue.”
The post was liked by outspoken former Nationals MP George Christensen.
The hotel has urged people to be kind with many unloading the council for threatening the pub
The pub has also counted among its patrons leading Conservative political figures, Liberal Senator Matt Caravan and former Deputy Prime Minister and current MP Barnaby Joyce.
Singleton Council told Daily Mail Australia that it initially told the pub to take down the flag in February following a complaint from a member of the public.
As there had been no request for an amendment, the council issued a second notice in August but said it wanted to discuss the matter despite issuing a demolition order.
“The council encourages owners to work with the council to resolve the matter,” it said in a statement.
Former Nationals MP George Christensen is one of several leading Conservative politicians to have backed the Caledonian Hotel
In its Facebook message, the pub urged people to remain civil.
“We ask people to be kind and polite to others at all times,” it said.
“In every council across Australia there are many good citizens doing an excellent job and going above and beyond their job as councillors.
“We want to emphasize that please treat others as we would all like to be treated. Kindness, love, courtesy and dignity will always prevail.
‘We thank you and ask that you be kind to ALL.’
The 224 comments showed that the topic was boiling up emotionally.
“Hi I’m the lady from Bundaberg QLD who cried on Monday morning to give you my support,” one commenter wrote.
“What the heck is the problem with flying the Australian flag FFS, if you’re a person who has offended the flag you don’t belong in Australia,” read another comment.
“God bless you for always standing up against tyranny and for freedom – when the flag that represents our country offends and when the flag, both red and blue, the red flag, the true one Flag of the people is, offended you, the flag our Anzacs fought under, please reconsider your eligibility for citizenship…” wrote another.
Former Deputy Prime Minister and current Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce is another who has described himself as an enthusiastic patron of the hotel
‘Good luck meeting – Shame Shame Singleton Council’.
The flag was created by local roofers and painters in January after landlord Brad Hill was fined $1,000 in December for serving people unvaccinated during October’s Covid restrictions.
Ray Hadley, the morning presenter for Sydney radio station 2GB, claimed to have tipped off police.
In response, the hotel hung a sign at its venue that read, “Who is Ray?” The talkback show’s host sprayed furiously at Mr Hill, calling him an on-air profanity.
The pub went up for sale in May, according to property website realcommercial.com.au
“The Caledonian Hotel ticks all the boxes with a large land holding, 15 gaming licenses, 14 guest rooms, on site parking and managed by individual venue operators. There will be a lot of interest,” the listing said.
However, it appears that the pub has not changed hands.
