Overnight, a Save the Moreland Hotel Instagram account and Change.org petition have appeared online.

The iconic pub – on the corner of Sydney and Moreland roads in Brunswick – is beloved for its slightly mysterious but now culturally significant design, which we delved into in a 2019 print story. Its exterior is unremarkable, but its interior looks like an Italian piazza, complete with a miniature Colosseum and statue of David. The domed ceiling is painted like a summer’s day sky and there’s enough fake marble to rival a bathroom showroom.

But there’s a chance the hotel could be stripped of is ornate, Italianate look.

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On the weekend, long-time Brunswick local Hannah G – the organiser of the Save the Moreland Hotel campaign – caught wind that the pub’s owner had plans to get rid of its first-century-inspired dining room to make space for more sport screening.

Behind the venue is Australian Leisure and Hospitality (ALH), a hospitality, property development and gaming group that runs more than 350 pubs across Australia.

In a statement, a spokesperson from ALH’s parent company Endeavour Group told Broadsheet: “We will invest in an upgrade of the hotel’s iconic bistro, bringing a new, modern food and beverage experience to the pub … We are still finalising the new concept, but we are committed to ensuring that we bring each pub’s story to life in a way that is meaningful to the local community.”

The owner also remains committed to retaining the statement design pieces in some capacity and has reinforced that the space won’t be used for gaming.

“I’ve been going there for ages, and I just love it,” Hannah tells Broadsheet. “And I just love how everyone I know who goes – or even just knows about it – loves it too … You wouldn’t know from the outside that it’s got such an incredible interior.”

“I can’t believe they’re getting rid of it,” she continues. “We were all just completely shocked [when we found out]. Hands on our mouths gasping. And that’s exactly how everyone reacts when I tell them.”

Sign the petition online.

@savethemorelandhotelbistro

This article was updated at 1.09pm on November 23 to reflect a statement from Endeavour Group. Additional reporting by Jo Robin.