Still harbouring obvious affection for the place, Skelley took
Stuff for a tour, as well pointing out some of its fascinating history, such as the fact that it was where Carterton got its name. When he bought it in 2006, Skelley ran it as a traditional pub, but found the appetite for a traditional country watering hole had diminished. It then hosted a brothel for a short time, much to the amusement of locals who used to keep an eye out for familiar vehicles in the parking lot. For a few years it became a children’s petting zoo with a variety of animals in the adjoining buildings and paddocks.