General News
4 November, 2025
Gutted: Locals mourn loss of community hub
Until you have experienced what a small town pub brings to a community, it's impossible to fathom the vital role they have to play in the day-to-day life of locals.
The community of Lascelles has been left broken-hearted after their "local", Minapre, caught fire last week, causing severe damage.
For one Lascelles local, Tenae Mott, her eyes filled with tears when she visited the fire site the following morning.
It was more than just a business, more than just a pub, not only to Tenae but to the community as a whole.
It was a place where many hours had been spent growing up, where celebrations had been held, and where many family dinners had been shared.
It was a place, Tenae said, that will never be forgotten or replaced.
In a post she shared on her socials after the fire, Tenae said the memories are all people have left.
"The heart of our community is gone," she reflected.
"From sleeping on the old green couch, sliding down the stairs for hours, the singing fish on the wall, having our first drinks, dancing on the pool table and the jukebox songs that will forever be my favourite.
"So many laughs, tears and stories that will never fade."
Tenae's family is an established part of the community in Lascelles, with the Motts farming their land since 1903.
It's no surprise that, because of this, the Minapre holds a special place in her heart.
"Growing up, it was one of our favourite watering holes," she said.
"I have made a lot of friends at and had a lot of fun times at the pub.
"In the last few years, Sunday was always the night we went to the pub, where we would all get together, have a drink and get pizzas."
Always a popular spot for people to come together, Tenae said many birthdays were celebrated at the venue - including her 21st.
After footy or tennis on a Saturday, she said the bar would be so packed you could hardly move.
"Christmas Eve was always a big night at the pub, as the locals, past and present, would be home for Christmas, and everyone could catch up," she recalled.
But the fire leaves a gaping hole in a place for the community to come together.
"Our footy club folded years ago, so the pub was somewhere the locals could catch up," said Tenae.
"It was also our local post office and shop."
Tenae learned of the fire when her partner, Daniel Floyd, was called to it as a CFA member at about 2.30am.
"I was concerned, obviously, as I knew being an old building, there was probably not going to be the best outcome of the situation," she admitted.
"I listened to the CFA radio for quite a while as I couldn't sleep, but there wasn't much the CFA could do as the fire had made it into the roof..."
"I was pretty sad, I was only in there the day before."
The next morning, Tenae visited the building's remnants and shed a tear over the situation.
"There was nothing left of the inside of the building," she said.
Darren Mott echoed his daughter's devastation at the loss of the community icon.
His ancestors and family have been farming the land near Lascelles for 120 years.
"Minapre has a lot of meaning to everyone in the district, because it's not only a pub; it's been our store, it's been our post office and it's hard to explain, it's a place where we have had parties, receptions for weddings, club functions for sport, and it just goes on and on," Mr Mott said.
"It's a devastating thing - with the burning down of the pub, there is no pub between Hopetoun and Sea Lake, so our nearest pub is 30kms.
"It's surreal, it's a lot of history."
Mr Mott, 61, said he had visited the pub at least weekly for the last 40-odd years.
"A few of us used to go in on a Sunday night for a beer, and there were old fellas and young fellas, and some of the girls, and you'd have a beer or two, catch up and go home," he fondly reflected.
"It's a huge loss and it's going to be extremely hard to replace, just because of the atmosphere of being able to go in and have a drink - whether you drink beer or coke or whatever, it's just so sad."
Agreeing that unless you come from a small country town, it's impossible to fully realise how a pub can be the lifeline of the community, Mr Mott said, you can go to a city pub, but there is no community involved in it.
"Lascelles, even though it's probably been a community that is dwindling, it's still a community and everyone knows everyone," Mr Mott said.
Also lost in the fire were many historical photos that had adorned the pub walls, although Mr Mott said, thankfully, with the bistro not fully evolved, some were able to be recovered.
Not forgotten in the devastation are the pub owners, for whom Mr Mott feels deeply.
"The publicans - they've lost a business, their house, an amount of stuff in the fire," Mr Mott said.
"And what do they do?
"At the moment they are living in their caravan ... but until their future is all sorted out, they are living in limbo, so you have to feel for them."
