An "unlikely museum" which hasn't been operating since 1998 will throw open its doors on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The former Dora Dora Hotel at Talmalmo will open its doors to the public for the first time in almost two decades for those wishing to "drive drown memory lane".
The open day will be in conjunction with an exhibition by the Wymah Museum for a day which organisers say will appeal to "anyone who holds memories of the old hotel".
Wymah Museum committee member Maree Roberts said the hotel which was built in 1870 hasn't been in operation since 1998.
"The Dora Dora Hotel was owned by Alf Wright and his wife Emma from 1945 until it closed in 1998," she said.
"Nestled beside the Murray River 70 kilometres upstream of Albury the hotel became part of Upper Murray folklore."
Ms Roberts said the current owners often have people coming past wanting a look at the old pub.
"Now in the hands of a local Holbrook couple as a weekender they say they still get people dropping in to have a look around for old times sake," she said.
"We encourage everyone who remembers being in the pub and has memories of Alf and the pub to come along and drive between the two locations for a look."
The Wymah Museum have relics on loan from the Woolpack Inn Museum Holbrook.
"It was a very quiet pub in the winter," Ms Roberts said.
"It was lucky to see a single customer some days but in holiday time tourists would wander in from the dusty road to gape at the greatest collection of oddities," Ms Roberts said.
"From a two metre stuffed goanna to a World War II Spitfire carburettor.
"Bayonets, badges, animal skins, key rings, old guns, and hundreds of other crazy items covered the walls and hung from the ceiling."
Those are just some of the relics on loan at the Wymah Museum and the old bar at the pub is still inside the house.
The Dora Dora Hotel had three owners and three managers in its 128-year history but Ms Roberts said the final owner Alf Wright was "as much an attraction as the pub itself".
"Alf was the pub - it was his personality that made it," she said.
"Everyone who met him called him Alf and he spent most of his time behind the bar spinning yarns and 'telling lies'.
"The signs Free Beer Tomorrow and Beware of the Agapanthus and the two shilling piece stuck to the bar stool are just some of the memories that anyone who had visited would have.
"With the Wymah Ferry currently not operating, a drive into the Upper Murray to Walwa and across to Jingellic may make a pleasant drive out for the day to catch a few memories."
The open day will be held on Sunday, May 26 from 10am to 4pm.
Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here
