THE HISTORY
Grace Darling was a sassy 19th century heroine and celebrity, feted by socialites and adventure- seeking folks worldwide. In 1838, after spotting a shipwreck from her Northumberland Lighthouse home, the 22-year-old maiden rowed out to sea, saving nine sailors and sending the Victorian version of the paparazzi into a flap. On that day an English rival to the legend of Joan of Arc was born, and – with the twin advantages of being better dressed and still alive – began to kick the French lady’s butt in three directions. William Wordsworth wrote a poem, The Queen sent 50 quid, someone immortalised her achievements in song – and, before anyone had heard of Britney Spears, Grace began selling off bits of her hair.
After yielding to consumption (and not the Saturday night kind) Grace Darling had a hotel named after her in downtown Collingwood – officially opened by a Tassy Politician in 1854 with luminaries such as Squizzy Taylor knocking the froth off a few at the launch party.
So goes the legend of Grace, and her ghostie remains (alongside the Collingwood F.C.’s) in this pretty bluestone brick and stone building. In 2009, Melbourne’s second oldest pub was given a good clean up by four owners: Cath Fletcher, Maurice Manno, Mace Williams & Dan Zeidan.
THE PRESENT
Whether you want pub classics with a crafty twist, a cheeky red taken on a Chesterfield by an open fire, a candlelit dinner for two in a leafy atrium, or a special occasion in a spooky-cellar- turned-private-dining-room – this is the joint for you.
Nosh on seasonal produce, free range and organic fare. Wash it down with a drop from our boutique wine list (focused on locally produced and small owner growers), or one of a large selection of local and international beers. Housemade pickles, preserves and local cheeses are served up peasant-style, alongside slow-cooked Sunday roasts served to juicy perfection in traditional cast iron pots.
If you’ve a hankering for a magazine launch, a fashion launch, a launch launch, some vintage market shopping or some sweet-ass indie sounds, check out what’s happening in the Grace Bandroom. My Disco, Teeth & Tongue, Lost Animal, The Process, Super Wild Horses, The Frowning Clouds, The Bonniwells, Sophie Brous, Electric Smile, Ouch My Face, Duck Duck Chop, Tessa & The Typecasts, Shout Out Louds, Kirin J Sullivan & Six Foot Hick have all pounded the upstairs stage.
