This January, The Rising Sun Hotel will reach a milestone few pubs can claim, celebrating 175 years in the Clare Valley. To celebrate the occasion, the historic local will host a three-day Birthday Bash from Friday, January 23rd to Sunday, January 25th, bringing live music, food and storytelling to the community that has shaped the Rising Sun since 1851.
First licensed as The Rising Sun Inn in 1851, the building began life as a stopover for travellers moving through the region, offering rooms, stables and a garden. It even played a small role in local history as the first regional site to receive a telegraph message. As Auburn grew, so did the pub, becoming The Rising Sun Hotel in 1904, with the bluestone building completed in 1907, which is still part of the site today.
While much has changed over the decades, the role of the Rising Sun has remained the same. It is a place to meet, share a meal, hear music, raise a glass and spend time together, a constant through generations of locals.
That vibe runs through the 175th Birthday Bash, with celebrations spread across the Front Bar, Stable Green and Hallway. The weekend kicks off on Friday evening with a relaxed Front Bar gathering. Entry is free, with an extended locals’ happy hour setting the tone, followed by tunes from DJ Murph from 7:30pm.
Saturday is the highlight of the celebrations as the Stable Green comes alive with a full day of live music from midday. Tara and Richard Coates open proceedings, followed by Warren Milera with Glenn Skuthorpe, before The Sunrise Collective, the Rising Sun’s newly formed house band, closes out the evening. Plus, Smokey Uppercuts American BBQ will be on site throughout the day.
As it heads into the evening, the celebration shifts indoors for a more intimate, ticketed Dinner and Show in the Hallway. Guests arrive from 6:30pm for a sparkling welcome, followed by a three-course dinner and Peter Head presenting King of the Cross. With just 30 seats available, the evening is designed as a close, personal experience.
The weekend wraps up on Sunday with The Big Dance, an afternoon and evening of live music starting at 12pm. Shyla Eve takes to the stage first, followed by Mick Kidd and Dave Blight, before Motel Music headlines. Smokey Uppercuts American BBQ returns for another day of smoky, slow-cooked favourites.
After 175 years, the Rising Sun remains what it has always been, a place shaped by the people who pass through it. This weekend is about acknowledging the past, celebrating the present, and raising a glass to what comes next.
The Rising Sun 175 Year Birthday Bash
When: Friday, January 23rd to Sunday, January 25th
Where: The Rising Sun Hotel, 19 Main North Road, Auburn
Price: Saturday General Admission: $10pp, Sunday General Admission: $20pp, Two-Day Pass: $25pp, Peter Head “King of the Cross”: $95pp
For more information, click here.
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