Loretta Wilmshurst Tribute

The following tribute was made at the AHA|SA Women In Hotels Hall Of Fame dinner, to acknowledge the incredible contribution made by Loretta Wilmshurst.

Today we celebrate the incredible journey of Loretta Wilmshurst, a trailblazer in the South Australian hotel industry. Her story is one of courage, determination, and a steadfast commitment to building not just businesses, but vibrant communities.

Loretta’s hotel journey commenced in January 1980, when she and her husband Rodney took a bold step and acquired the Moonta Hotel. Loretta, at 31 years old, found herself embarking on a journey that would test her resilience. Amidst challenges like a mice plague, lively discos, and rooms filled with cigarette smoke, Loretta embraced the bustling energy of those early days.

As she vividly recalls, back then, calculations were done mentally and drinks were tallied in one’s head. Those were the times of social club picnics, where camaraderie was fostered, and the drinks flowed generously, leaving unforgettable memories.

Sundays were a day of rest, and the 12 o’clock closing created a rhythm of life that Loretta navigated with her trademark tenacity. Saturday night closing meant the entire team rolling up their sleeves to clean the pub, followed by a welldeserved knock-off drink. It was a time of community, of shared responsibilities, and of building connections that would withstand the test of time.

Loretta’s journey continued, marked by transitions that showcased her unyielding spirit. From acquiring the Commonwealth Hotel in Pt Augusta, to transforming Spuds Roadhouse in Pimba near Woomera, she embraced challenges head-on. Who can forget the transformation of Spuds, where 4,000 tons of filling were brought in to combat boggy roads and where electrical work turned the yard into an amazing winter display of lights?

In each chapter, Loretta’s perseverance remained a constant. Through motel rooms, workshop services, RAA assistance, and more, she nurtured an environment of service and community. The joy of a Sunday night schnitzel drew crowds, uniting people from stations, Woomera, and Roxby.

Through fires, hold-ups, and the recent challenges brought by the pandemic, Loretta’s true spirit shone brightly. She fostered loyalty among her staff, creating a family that stood together through thick and thin. With a steadfast approach, she expanded her hotel group, including the Commercial Hotel in Two Wells. Along the way, there may have even been a ghost or two!

So we celebrate Loretta’s remarkable journey, a journey that has left an indelible mark on our industry.

Her dedication to the South Australian hotel industry is truly awe-inspiring, and we are thrilled to induct her into the Women in Hotels Hall of Fame.

LORETTA WILMSHURST – AN AMAZING JOURNEY

BY LUCY BREWER

In Loretta Wilmshurst’s forty odd years as a prolific country publican, there have been hold ups and a mice plague, a brandy-loving ghost named George, discos, renovations, grandchildren, great staff, and a lot of hard work.

Loretta and her husband, Rodney, started their journey as publicans at a barbeque. They spoke to an expublican, and while the two were on their way home, Rodney suggested they buy a pub.

“We put our house on the market, and I think we sold it in three weeks,” said Loretta. “We hopped in the car, and away we went with the kids in the back, to look for a pub.”

It was 1980. Loretta was 31, Rodney was 35, and the pub they found was the Moonta Hotel. It was for sale, and after running into the publican, the couple purchased it.

“It was by the seaside, which was lovely,” said Loretta. “The kids used to wake up and go squidding on the jetty … it was very busy in the Summer season.”

To begin with, the family lived in the hotel and then found a house nearby. There were many discos, many meals, and then a mice plague.

“You had them running around and up in the ceilings … dying in the floorboards they’d be crawling all over you, so you’d be putting your head under the blanket,” said Loretta.” “It was terrible … everybody had them it was a very difficult time to go through.”

Eventually, Rodney’s mum became unwell, and the family relocated to Port Augusta, where they used to live. They acquired the Hotel Commonwealth, bought a house, and according to Loretta, “had a bit more of a home life.”

But Loretta’s journey as a publican was far from over. From Port Augusta, the family went to Pimba, and transformed Spud’s Roadhouse. “We did everything up,” Loretta said. “We had accommodation for staff and workers … we got a new house.”

Loretta’s children had grown up and started to have children of their own.

“Our family grew, so that was lovely,” she said. “And then we came back to Two Wells, and that’s where the ghost story was.”

The Two-Wells Tavern-Motel, an iconic regional pub acquired by Loretta and Rodney in 1999, came with a ghost.

“The cleaner would come in, and next minute, the brandy would glug, and the door would swing, and it was George,” said Loretta.

There are ample stories of George the Two Wells ghost. He’s been seen on beds and in windows by guests, was fond of glugging brandy from the bottle, swinging doors (particularly in the kitchen), rattling tills, and according to Loretta’s youngest granddaughter, lived in the key room of the pub.

“One day I was coming up the stairs and heard a bang, and there were toys being thrown around the room,” said Loretta. “That was George.”

Beyond ghost stories, through Loretta’s many years as a publican, there have been challenges aplenty. Robberies, fires, unpredictability, and the many day to day issues that come with managing hotels. Yet, her passion remains.

“Be prepared to work,” she said, when asked about the advice she’d give. “We worked hard and then you had a lot of fun going along the way … you do get challenges, but you cope with them at the time.”

While Loretta feels the industry may be more serious than it once was, she remains a believer that there is a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction that comes from being a publican, particularly when you surround yourself with a supportive team.”

“You cannot manage a hotel without the support of good staff and loyal staff, that stick by you no matter what,” she said.