Melbournes Pubs - The Union Hotel, Ascot Vale

There are several Union Hotels around the place. This one is on the corner of Union Road and Maribyrnong Road, in Ascot Vale, at one corner of what once was the 'Temperance Triangle' of Ascot Vale West.

As I wrote when I blogged about the Waterloo Cup Hotel, until very recently, the triangle of land bounded byUnion, Espom and Maribyrnong roads had, at the time of subdivision in the 1880s, been placed under a covenant which prevented the sale of alcohol. This was circumvented by developers who put a pub outside each corner of the triangle (the third pub is long gone, but would have been opposite the showgrounds).

The Union is an odd pub. About 5 years ago, they refurbished part of the insides, creating a public bar at the back which is predominantly preoccupied with horse racing, and placing bets on the same. The old public bar at the corner has been left alone, but converted into a bistro - it looks a lot classier than the pub-TAB which is the current public bar. The exterior of the pub has been repainted - but only the ground floor - which makes the place look incomplete.

Apparently they used to have stubby holders there, about 5 or 6 years ago, but not now. As I do visit this pub every few months, that is just bad luck for me, as my stubby holder collection can always do with some additions.