Express MIDLAND
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Tuesday, February 13, 2024
WOODEND W OODEND ICON ICON RESTORED RESTORED RES RED Islay House owners Tarni James and Clive Warner.
Woodend's iconic Islay House holds many stories as well as a place in hearts of local residents. Now it has undergone a renovation to return to its roots, offering luxury colonial-style accommodation. Established in 1860 as the British American Hotel, Islay House was a coaching inn offering accommodation to miners travelling to Bendigo goldfields in the 1860s. New owners Tarni James and Clive Warner were keen to build on the historical character in their renovations that have spanned 16 months. Previous owners had undertaken major infrastructure work. The next step was attention to some of the finer details. Reviving history Clive's background is in English traditional canal boat building and furniture making, and he completed much of the renovation himself with the help of a builder friend.
Tarni's background is as a journalist, television producer and project manager with a special interest in furniture restoration. Along the way, they have unearthed all kinds of hints to the past, including large horse shoes from the adjacent old blacksmith. They have also found bricks from the forge, bottles, china, cartwheels and worn steps that indicate old doorways. "We have decorated with a real eye for history because we want to honour this iconic building in Woodend. The community has a real attachment to it, which we love," Tarni said. "We found out Islay House was once advertised as having 'eight rooms and a ballroom' – and now you can stay in what was the old ballroom thanks to the Historical Society records! "The bar was located in the front room and the rail along the bar is now the balustrade up the stairs, so we know how long the bar was.
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"We love knowing the stories of what was originally here to share with our guests." And the stories didn't stop there. Once the community discovered the much-loved building had new owners, many were eager to share what they knew. Community connection The couple discovered the community's attachment to the building early their renovations. Clive had temporarily removed the iconic Islay House sign to re-touch the front door and was quickly reminded of its importance. "A lady asked, "Where's the sign?". It gave me that pressure to really do the right thing by the local residents, and I like that," he said. Passers-by have also enquired about the garden, people have enjoyed tours, wedding photographs have been captured out front, and local historians have helped the new owners understand the building's history. Continu8ed page 7.
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