Our Story
It All Began In 1872...
The story of how Lambys came to be goes WAY back (like, over 150 years back).
It’s a tale steeped deep in the fabric of Geelong’s history: with twists & turns, lots of wool, a resident ghost and more than a few drinks in between!
We are fortunate enough to currently occupy the basement level within the heritage-listed National Wool Museum building, a pinnacle of architectural innovation when it opened on August 1st 1872. By 1875, it was taken over by Dennys Lascelles & Co. and utilised as a wool warehouse, the first building in Victoria planned to facilitate storage, inspection and marketing of wool. The wool industry was booming and Geelong was on top.
Back then, a railway system powered by horse and cart ran through what is now Lambys Tavern all the way to Cunningham Pier where the product was then shipped internationally. Rumour has it that the rail tracks & tunnels are still there under Brougham Street!
After wool production slowed down in the region, we jumped at the chance to take over a part of the building.
The rest as they say, is history!
Any heritage building comes with its own unique character, and shortly after the takeover and establishment of the Tavern, our very own Lambys ghost joined the fam. From time to time someone will catch a glimpse of them wandering the empty dance floor or hanging by the bar …but its friendly, we promise. The venue also began building a strong reputation for providing awesome nights out, hosting local and international entertainment, thousands of celebrations and serving up our fair share of drinks at the bar over the years.
So there you have it, from a dirt-floor wool warehouse to an iconic and long standing venue in the Geelong CBD, it’s been a wild ride to say the least! We look forward to generations of people in our region and beyond continuing the tradition that is a Lambys Sesh and striving to remain Geelong’s favourite late night venue.
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