Paul Upham Assumes Control of Newtown's Historic Gold Diggers Arms Hotel
Renowned restaurateur Paul Upham, the visionary behind the acclaimed transformation of the 1850s Sawyers Arms Tavern, has now taken over another cherished Newtown landmark. Upham has joined forces with experienced venue manager Jasper Bingham to assume control of the historic Gold Diggers Arms, which first opened its doors on Skene Street back in 1854 during Victoria's gold rush era.
A Homecoming and Strategic Partnership
For Upham, this latest venture represents a meaningful homecoming. "I grew up drinking here. I can remember $1.80 pots and $2 crumbed sausages, so it's always been sort of my local pub as well," he fondly recalls. The decision to take over the Gold Diggers Arms was solidified when Upham found the ideal partner in Bingham, who had previously served as venue manager at the establishment. Upham's extensive culinary background includes significant stints at esteemed venues such as MoVida and Coda in Lorne prior to his successful overhaul of the Sawyers Arms.
Preserving Community Legacy While Elevating Offerings
The Gold Diggers Arms has long served as a vital community hub since its inception. "I think for me it's probably really one of the last neighbourhood community-style pubs where essentially this is all the neighbours' loungeroom," Upham emphasizes. This sense of communal ownership is deeply respected, evidenced by the pub being voted Geelong's number one hotel in a 2020 poll of Geelong Advertiser subscribers. Upham and Bingham are committed to honoring this legacy while thoughtfully enhancing the venue's culinary profile.
The new management team plans to retain beloved pub classics that have defined the Gold Diggers Arms experience, including:
- Steak and ribs specials on Mondays
- Cutlets featured on Tuesdays
- Traditional parmis served on Wednesdays
- Hearty Sunday roasts
Introducing Gastropub Sophistication
Upham aims to introduce a refined gastropub atmosphere to the Gold Diggers Arms, drawing inspiration from his successful approach at the Sawyers Arms. The menu will be streamlined and elevated while maintaining crowd favorites. "We wanted to do sort of cutlets, lots of steak options, keep the burger on, parmis, schnitzels. It's still really that and then a couple of gastropub dishes," Upham explains. New culinary highlights will include:
- Barramundi accompanied by a delicate beurre blanc sauce
- Lamb shank dish featuring a Pyrenees sauce from Frank Camorra
- Lakes Entrance flathead tails and Balinese curry
- Caramelised pork belly and premium steak selections
Notable starters will feature saganaki with roast honey and orange blossom, crispy fried calamari with Asian salad and lemon aioli, and pork and fennel meatballs in sugo sauce served with vienna bread. Bar snacks will include a signature burger and South Melbourne's famous dim sims.
Operational Structure and Future Vision
Bingham will oversee daily venue operations, while Upham will focus on kitchen management and back-of-house responsibilities. "It's really probably just trying to elevate it a little bit," Upham remarks regarding his new challenge. The immediate focus is on dinner service, which is available seven nights weekly, with aspirations to expand lunch offerings beyond the current four days. Upham emphasizes affordability, noting "only one in three people will shout as a group. So for us it's like, 'OK, let's try and make people want to come back to a community pub and find it's more affordable.'"
Historical Charm and Modern Amenities
The Gold Diggers Arms retains fascinating historical elements despite architectural changes over time. While the original sandstone walls have been replaced with brick, a tug of war sign remains proudly displayed above the bar, and the dining room features a famous photograph of the late Jim Fidge with Queen Elizabeth during her 1988 visit. The venue offers substantial amenities including:
- Extensive off-street parking directly opposite the hotel
- A popular upstairs function room
- Rear courtyard undercover dining space
- Expansive backyard area with potential for future development
The Gold Diggers Arms, located at 87 Skene Street in Newtown, operates from noon Thursday through Sunday and from 4pm Monday through Wednesday. Reservations can be made through the official website at golddiggersarms.com.au.
