Murchison’s Railway Hotel has entered a new era, with long-time owners Paul and Emilia Golding handing over the reins to Vipin Jaswal and Rupinder ‘Rupi’ Sidhu. After more than seven years of building the pub into a popular spot for locals and visitors, the Goldings have stepped aside, while the new owners are keen to continue its legacy with their own touch.
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The transition marks a significant shift for Vipin, who relocated from Craigieburn and who comes from a background in warehousing and logistics. Despite the industry change, he has quickly embraced the role, even stepping into the kitchen as the pub’s chef.
“Looking at the way they (the Goldings) handle this business, I hope I’ll grow (it) more, making (it) more comfortable for me and the locality, for the people, because the locality is very nice,” Vipin said.
Cooking is something Vipin always loved, and now he gets to do it every day at the pub, while his partner, Rupi, balances her time between teaching and helping with the business. Their two sons, Dekam and Ehit, lend a helping hand when they can, too.
For the Goldings, selling the pub was about more than just business — it was a family decision. They had been running it with their son Mitch, but when he chose a different path, they decided to step away rather than continue without him.
“We’ve enjoyed our time in the Goulburn Valley — I absolutely love living in Murchison,” Paul, known as Goldie, said.
“We’ve met some awesome people.
“We’ve had a lot of fun.
“We’ve had some awesome entertainers — iconic Australian entertainers here over the journey.
“But we got grandkids already, and more coming, and we want to be able to spend time with our kids and their kids.”
Since taking over in late January, Vipin and Rupi have been steadily finding their feet. They are keen to maintain the pub’s reputation for great food, friendly service and live music — elements that made it a standout destination under the Goldings’ ownership.
At the same time, they’re adding their own touch to the place with fresh ideas — such as themed food nights and a more active social media presence to connect with both regulars and new customers.
“Vip and Rupi decided Wednesday night is going to be their curry night,” Paul said.
“And it was probably the best Wednesday we’ve had for a long time — people came specifically to taste the curry.
“I said to these guys ‘Do what we’ve done but do different stuff.’
“They’ve developed their own menu already, which is good.”
The pub’s strong community ties remain at the heart of its success. Over the years, it has been a meeting place for people from across the region, with major events drawing hundreds of visitors.
The new owners have already seen the warmth and support of the locals, something they say has made the transition smoother than expected.
“I didn’t expect (from) these people, the love and the support,” Vipin said.
“It’s really amazing — it’s good.”
“I think I can speak on behalf of Vipin and Rupi: they have been really well accepted in a sometimes hard-to-be-accepted environment,” Paul said.
“When new people come to an area like this, it’s sometimes hard, you know?
“We were looked down the nose when we got to Nagambie (owning a previous pub).
“We were told ‘These people won’t last’ and we have people tell us now we’re ‘The best publicans ever had in the game.’
“That’s what we want here.”
While Paul and Emilia are moving on, they won’t be disappearing entirely. They’ve provided extensive training and guidance to the new owners for weeks and have made it clear they’ll always be just a phone call away.
The Goldings’ time at the pub saw it transformed from a struggling venue into a thriving hub, with a reputation for quality food and live entertainment. They leave behind a strong foundation, confident that the business is in good hands.
“They’re a bit nervous early days, but it gets better as they (Vipin and Rupi) get more experience,” Paul said.
When asked what the highlight was of owning the Railway Hotel, Paul had several moments popping to mind.
“The biggest highlight for me was when we had a band called Mental As Anything, a major Aria award-winning band in Australia,” Paul said.
“We were flat out with 350 people in our beer garden on Sunday afternoon and I was running from one bar to inside, and a customer grabbed me by the arm and said ‘Goldie, Goldie.’
“I said ‘I’m busy, I’m flat out — I’ve got to go.’
“He turned me around and we were looking at the stage and he said, ‘I cannot believe I’m standing in the beer garden of the Railway Hotel, watching and listening to a multi-Aria award-winning band.
“That for me was a highlight — and one more is the 4.6-star rating that Emilia, my wife, has gained with help obviously from our people, the kids.
“She’s very proud of that as well, 4.6-star rating on Google for her food.
“She’s a five-foot Italian and she loves her food.”
As Vipin and Rupi settle into their roles, they are focused on growing the business while keeping its welcoming atmosphere alive. Their goal is simple — to make the pub a place where people continue to gather, enjoy good food and feel at home.
“I just want to work for them (patrons) — make them comfortable here (with) more entertainment and hopefully (they can) enjoy here with me as well as they did with Goldie and Emilia,” Vipin said.
“We are new in this business but we’re going to improve it.”
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