The Local’s atmosphere is summed up in its name: a much-loved Port Melbourne gathering spot for icy cold beers, delicious pub meals and the best live sports from around the globe, and a warm and friendly atmosphere day and night.

But as much as it is creating its own story, the history of the pub – once The Royal Mail Hotel – tells a remarkable story about life in 19th century Sandridge (in 1884 Sandridge’s name was changed to Port Melbourne).

The Royal Mail Hotel was established by Carl Julius Frederick (known as John) Seismann in 1871 and was described as a ten-room brick bar, notes the City of Port Phillip Heritage Review.

Seismann had previously operated as a mail contractor on this site and lived in Sandridge from as early as 1858.

The Review notes the name The Royal Mail derives from the hotel’s proximity to the post office and telegraph office, then located on the south-east corner of Bay and Rouse streets.

Seismann owned and operated the hotel as ‘Seismann’s Royal Mail Hotel’ until 1880, before it was sold to a Mr J Bell.

During their time as publicans John Seisman and his wife were central members of the Sandridge community, servicing mail and opening their doors to locals young and old.

The Record of 15 October 1932 notes: “when [John Seisman] had the contract to carry the mails for the post office he is said to have stabled his horses under the ground floor of the hotel. Our friend recalls the happy children’s parties that were given by Mrs Seisman at the hotel.”

The Sandridge/Port Melbourne area – with its ports nearby – was well populated and by the mid-1870s, there were 48 licensed hotels in Sandridge, providing refreshment and accommodation to the passengers and crew on board ships arriving in Hobson’s Bay.

The Heritage Review notes: “It was in this period that the temperance movement began to grow, organising petitions to reduce the number of hotel licences in Port Melbourne.”

It goes on: “Tensions between local residents, sailors and publicans rose. Frederick Seisman was prominent in the opposition to the temperance forces in the suburb in the 1880s, organising a meeting of the local publicans in February 1887.”

The Review tells us The Royal Mail was one of 23 hotels considered for closure by the licensing court in 1888, the Inspector of Police describing the hotel as a ‘brick house, [with] slate roof, fairly furnished and well conducted’, though lacking a yard ‘to afford the necessary accommodation for a hotel’.”

It goes on: “A decision to close 23 of the 47 hotels in Port Melbourne was overturned in 1890, and despite the temperance movement’s efforts, seven hotels remained in Bay Street between Beach and Rouse streets in 1895.”

Hotels were all-purpose community hubs in the 1870s and 1880s, hosting local meetings and police and judicial matters.

The Royal Mail Hotel hosted meetings of the Oddfellows and friendly societies, coronial inquests and funerals in the 1870s and 1880s.

On 27 May 1875 The Record noted a meeting of “the Grand United Order of Oddfellows” held at Seisman’s Royal Mail Hotel and a retiring member was presented with “a handsome time piece”.

In 1887 the Standard ran an ad for Seisman’s house spruiking a “spacious lounge room for meetings and banquets… Catering of every description executed on the shortest notice.”

Two years later, another ad in the Standard noted “Mrs J. Seisman… will be glad to welcome all her old friends and intends to keep nothing but the best brands of ales, wines and spirits on the premises”.

In 1937, refurbishment works designed by architect Richard Le Poer Terry were carried out at the hotel, which linked the two bays behind a new Moderne facade.

The Royal Mail Hotel continued to operate through the twentieth century. It remains one of a large number of nineteenth century hotels and former hotel buildings, historically concentrated within close proximity to the Pier, and with a clear relationship to the early maritime history of the suburb.

The hotel was built in stages, with the earliest section being on the corner of Bay Street and the laneway to the south. A further two-storey addition north along Bay Street was constructed around 1918.

Today, 140 years later, it is still a cosy pub nestled in the heart of Port Melbourne and a stone’s throw away from the beach.

We have a classic pub feel, serving good pub food, and have a large range of tap beers. The crowd here is made up of locals of all ages and sports-enthusiasts, showing sports like AFL, NFL, UFC and more across the nine screens in the pub.

It offers private function rooms for hire for your next birthday celebration, engagement party, hens or bucks night, or corporate event.

Today The Local is proud of its past and excited for the future. Drop into The Local and experience a true Aussie local pub.