History

The Royal Victoria Hotel was opened in 1879 and the hotel's early days were quite unsettled.

During the first eight years there were two owners and eight lessees, seven of the lessees dying early in their contracts. Practically every year thereafter there was a change of owner, licensee, lessee or mortgager.

It was in 1942 when the legendary local Beltana identity, Lance Nicholls, took over the Royal Victoria Hotel and eventually bought it and maintained it free of mortgage. Lance was also the local grave digger, well digger and general handyman.

The licencees of the hotel from its opening in 1878 to the present day are: