![Going, gone: The owners of the Royal Oak Hotel in Port Fairy, formerly the Commercial Hotel, removed the building's verandah last week after it was deemed unsafe in February. Picture: Christine Ansorge Going, gone: The owners of the Royal Oak Hotel in Port Fairy, formerly the Commercial Hotel, removed the building's verandah last week after it was deemed unsafe in February. Picture: Christine Ansorge](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc731nkyniyao18ejkwblu.jpg/r0_0_5184_3456_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
PORT Fairy farewelled part of one of its iconic landmarks when The Royal Oak verandah was torn down.
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Owners of the Bank Street building, who declined to comment, were issued a permit to demolish the wooden structure in February after authorities deemed it unsafe.
Former owner Damien Gleeson said the building was condemned in May 2017 after crossbeams collapsed, raising urgent safety concerns.
Mr Gleeson said the verandah was an extension to the original 1857 building, added in the 1920s.
The hotel was a staging post for coaching companies for many years with some Port Fairy residents concerned demolishing the Edwardian style verandah would remove the layers of history.
A Port Fairy Historical Society representative said the Royal Oak was originally named The Commercial Travellers Association (CTA) and was the preferred accommodation for sales representatives travelling for work.
![Time: Taken around 1930, the Commercial Travellers Association is thought to have housed many travelling sales representatives. Picture: PF Historical Society. Time: Taken around 1930, the Commercial Travellers Association is thought to have housed many travelling sales representatives. Picture: PF Historical Society.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/rebecca.riddle/0dc162c0-fdbc-402d-b556-b23e70fcb58b.jpg/r0_0_2015_1030_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
“The hotel probably gave favourable rates to members.”
As time wore on the hotel name was shortened, becoming affectionately known as ‘The Commercial’.
![Cheers: Chaps dressed in their finest posed for a photograph at the front of the hotel sometime between 1889 and 1892. Picture: PF Historical Society. Cheers: Chaps dressed in their finest posed for a photograph at the front of the hotel sometime between 1889 and 1892. Picture: PF Historical Society.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/rebecca.riddle/36a0a4c2-53e5-42d3-a0bb-7d77e5542b4d.jpg/r0_0_1649_1098_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The removal of the 100-year-old verandah was the result of a vote by Moyne Shire councillors in February.
Plans for the building are expected to be released to the public before Christmas.
![Watering hole loses its deck Watering hole loses its deck](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/rebecca.riddle/99865e21-11f9-4b80-bafa-ae6975758201.jpg/r0_0_1774_1155_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)