An image of the original GV Hotel, circa 1920s.
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Dive into the heart of the Goulburn Valley’s culinary scene with Jan and Paul Phillips. Every Friday, the pair will serve our readers with their knowledge of our communities’ restaurants, cafés and pubs — one plate at a time.
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It was first established in the mid-1920s, and then, after a fire, it was rebuilt into a beautiful building that has seen many changes to maintain its character but has also kept up with the latest trends.
This fantastic venue has been a well-established, iconic place that we all know and love. It is a place where relationships are made and/or strengthened — we joked about turning up to the GV single and leaving in a relationship. Many locals can lay claim and relate to this.
Over the years, we have attended various events at the GV, including family weddings, sporting club events, award nights, live band performances, fashion parades and service club events.
We have been especially proud of our foster son, who partnered with a debutante. Notably, we were involved in honouring Don Phillips for more than 60 years of service to the Lions Club of Shepparton and organising an event for the Great Air Rally with Nancy Bird, the first Australian female commercial pilot, and Michael Ficher, who flew solo from London to Sydney in a Tiger Moth during the 100-year celebration of flight.
Additionally, the GV has been the venue for numerous personal celebrations, such as birthdays, anniversaries and award nights.
When we mention the GV, a beautiful sense of nostalgia often emerges. The Piano Bar remains a popular meeting place, Pinkies Night Club was a major attraction in its day, and the fine dining in the Peacock Room, along with memorable performances by bands like the Delltones, Chubby Checker, Suzi Quatro, Blondie, Ol’ 55, and Max Merritt and the Meteors, left a lasting impression.
The GV holds countless wonderful memories for many of us and offers spaces for any event, creating new memories with each visit.
The night of our visit, the ‘Little Master” Gary Ablett Jr was speaking, and there was a steady flow of Geelong and sports enthusiasts attending. Despite the GV being crazy busy, the staff remained calm and efficient and provided excellent hospitality. John Buzzo, the owner, generously shared his time and extensive knowledge of the GV’s flair and colourful history.
The Buzzo family, who have been hoteliers for more than 30 years, have owned the GV for the past few years, adding their unique touches, skills and professionalism to the venue. John proudly spoke about the 80-plus staff that the venue employs and how the diverse staff come from all over the globe, and we discussed how the GV Hotel has significantly contributed to the local economy.
The food is truly great. We enjoyed melt-in-your-mouth lemon pepper squid to share, followed by lamb backstrap with beetroot and feta salad, pita bread and tzatziki and aged premium rib-eye steak. We highly recommend dining at the GV.
Opening hours
Sunday to Thursday: lunch 11.30am-2.30pm, dinner 5.30pm-8.30pm.
Friday and Saturday: lunch 11.30am-2.30pm, dinner 5.30pm-9.30pm, main bar open until 1am.
Food pricing for GV Hotel, rated by Jan and Paul: $$
(Expensive $$$, moderate $$ good value $)
Paul Phillips and John Buzzo (the publican).
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John and Jan capture a moment through the Piano Bar window.
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Paul and John capture a moment below the Piano Bar entry doors.
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John Buzzo and the fabulous GV Hotel crew.
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A succulent rib-eye steak served with crispy chips and fresh salad.
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Melt in your mouth lemon pepper squid with salad.
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Delicious lamb backstrap served with beetroot and feta salad, pita bread and tzatziki.
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