A Century for Golden Chain in Victoria

One of Australia’s largest accommodation groups, Golden Chain Motor Inns, has announced that is has gained its 100th member property in Victoria.

The Mansfield Valley Motor Inn in Victoria’s High Country makes the Golden Chain network the strongest accommodation group in Victoria.

Set in two acres of lawns and gardens, the Mansfield Valley Motor Inn is the first four-star motel in Mansfield.

Motel operators, George and Sophia Wells, say the 23-room property is heavily used in winter by snow-lovers using it as a base to enjoy the nearby mountains including Mt Stirling, while in summer it is a magnet for 4-wheel drive enthusiasts as well as tourists enjoying the High Country and its history.

Its’ close proximity to Lake Eildon and Lake Nillahcootie also attracts boating enthusiasts.

George says the nearby Mansfield Zoo with its lions, alligators, monkeys, wombats, dingoes, bison, antelope and others is a major attraction for the area. Mansfield Zoo is one of North East Victoria’s hidden secrets, with a large collection of exotic and native animals on 30 acres of picturesque parkland featuring lovely views across the Delatite Valley to Mt Buller.

Visitors can hand feed many of the animals and can meet Sophia and Miss Greedy, the friendly fallow deer, and Joey the Grey Kangaroo.

Visitors can also soak up some Australian history following the Ned Kelly Trail from Mansfield (where Ned was first proclaimed an outlaw) through to Glenrowan and return.

Golden Chain General Manager, Bryan White, said the addition of the Mansfield Valley Motor Inn strengthened the National network and delivered an excellent option to travellers and tourists.

“The Mansfield Valley is a quality, four-star property which fits well within our market of 3 to 4.5 star ratings,” Bryan said.

“It carries with it a style and family attitude that has become the hallmark of Golden Chain.”

He said the motel would join nearly 320 other members throughout Australia in supporting an initiative to recognise the achievements of an Australian icon through the Slim Dusty Foundation. They are creating a special Slim Dusty Centre in Kempsey to commemorate the singer.

Golden Chain is a donor to the foundation and is assisting the group to create the centre.

Bryan said it was the new membership which ensured that Golden Chain continued as the fastest-growing accommodation group in Australia, with every one of its accommodation directories produced by the network every six months showing an increase in the number of members throughout the entire 21 years of its operation.

Report by The Mole