Blake Lee, The Buloke Times
Justin McNamara never thought he’d own a pub. On Saturday, he and his husband Jayden will reopen the Watchem Hotel after a three-year closure.
When Justin and Jayden moved to the small country town of Watchem ten years ago, it was a nerve-wracking decision.
But now, Justin says they “wouldn’t dare move back to the city.”
The couple are set to open the Watchem Hotel at 7 a.m. on Saturday, rebranding it as the Watchem Hotel, Café and Community Hub.
While the kitchen will remain closed until mid-July, and the bar is still waiting on its liquor licence, the venue will launch as the first-ever permanent Driver Reviver site.
The hotel will offer free tea, coffee and snacks to encourage drivers to take a break and manage fatigue.
Ashley Pittard, National Manager of Driver Reviver Australia, said the site would save lives, particularly given the high number of road deaths recorded so far this year.
“The opening of the Watchem Driver Reviver site is a fantastic example of a local community and commercial enterprise stepping up to help save lives on our roads,” Ashley said.
“Road crashes have claimed the lives of 443 people in Australia so far this calendar year including 92 in Victoria (as of 30 April 2026) – tragically this is a 20.3 per cent increase on the average over the previous five years (2021–2025) with around 30 per cent of these fatalities having fatigue as a contributing factor.”
Justin said he was proud to host the first permanent site.
“We’re proud as a small country community to continue our commitment to road safety by becoming part of the network of Driver Reviver sites throughout Victoria and Australia,” Justin said.
“Serving a free cuppa and biscuit this King’s Birthday weekend is wonderful ahead of obtaining our liquor licence and growing the venue down the track.”
The Watchem Hotel, Café and Community Hub will operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, with the McNamaras already having big ideas to bring it back to life.
They’re planning multicultural nights, bringing in qualified chefs for all-you-can-eat buffets with cuisines such as Chinese, Indian and Filipino.
“It’s not going to be your typical pub,” Justin said.
While still serving traditional country-style meals, live music and beer seen in pubs across regional Australia, the couple also hope events such as drag shows and a visit from Geelong Cats fan “Catman” will attract both locals and travellers.
Justin said the community has been supportive of the reopening after a fire took out the kitchen and closed the pub.
“The community just wants the pub back.”
The space will be community-oriented and will employ 11 locals from a “very large influx of resumes.”
Justin and Jayden are no strangers to managing businesses, currently owning and operating the Watchem Emporium, selling food, clothing and other items. They also rent a hobby farm with pigs and previously managed the Watchem Community Hub, as well as a short stint managing the Guildford Hotel.
They were initially looking to expand the Emporium and say the pub idea came after suggestions from locals.
“To be honest, I never thought I’d own a pub, but I’ll give anything a go,” Justin said.
Currently renting from the owners, the couple will take full ownership in around six months.
Community support has been strong, with locals helping out with various jobs and Origin Energy offering free gas lines.
The Watchem Hotel, Café and Community Hub will officially open at 7 a.m. on Saturday with the launch of the Driver Reviver site. Meals and alcoholic drinks will be served in coming weeks.
Justin and Jayden hope the reopening will bring renewed energy to the town of 124 people and buck a trend of recent pub closures across Australia.
“It’s the heart of the community,” Justin said.
“It’s where everyone can come together and sit and chat.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 4 June 2026.
