Following opposition from the Moyne Shire Council and plans for a public rally against pokies, the hotel’s interests have revealed there is no intentions to bring the machines into the town.

Victoria Hotel manager Steve Greenwood - who previously managed the Romsey Hotel- said he experienced first-hand the passion of the people of the Macedon Shire town when they campaigned against proposed gaming machines.

“When I was managing the Romsey Hotel I had my car egged and people out the front of the hotel protesting all day,’’ Mr Greenwood said.

“I have a wife and three children and with a young family this is something I don’t want to have to go through again.

“At the time I was supportive of my boss (the hotel’s owners) but I also saw the backlash that came from the community.

“As long as I am involved with the Victoria Hotel in Port Fairy there will be no poker machines at the venue.”

Rodger Constructions, which owns the Victoria Hotel and the Flying Horse Inn in Warrnambool, has backed the no-pokies pledge.

“We know the stories that are going around and we understand people might be trying to join the dots, but we want to assure the Port Fairy public pokies are not on our agenda,” spokesman Sam Stevens said.

Mr Stevens said the Moyne allotment of poker machines was purchased in the hope room would become available within the cap for the number of machines in Warrnambool.

He said if this does not eventuate the machines would be sold, with the first option to offload them to a venue outside the Moyne Shire.

In May, the Flying Horse Inn and the Warrnambool football club between them purchased Moyne Shire’s allotment of 36 poker machines.

The Moyne Shire Council has long held the position to resist the introduction of pokies into the municipality.

Earlier this month mayor James Purcell visited the township of Romsey, which won a legal battle to stop pokies coming to the town.

Both men said they were keen to set the record straight on the issue, with a community rally against the possible introduction of pokies set down for this Sunday.

“We believe we have the best venue in town and we are focused on food and family,” Mr Greenwood said.

“I would be more than happy to be contacted by the community with any concerns they have and to address the community rally on Sunday.”