Our Story

The Bunyip Hotel has been an institution in Cavendish since the 1840s and has had a long line of publicans who have taken the helm. After many ups and downs, James Campbell and Matt Nettleton have formed a partnership that they hope will not only deliver great food, beer and wine to the people of Cavendish, but also to be the caretakers of this iconic local watering hole.

Our aim is to deliver delicious, locally grown meals in a true country pub setting.
Our produce is sourced from local producers and we pride ourselves on developing relationships with these suppliers. We are also lucky to receive produce from the gardens of the residents of Cavendish and surrounds, which allows our menu to adapt and change to what is ripe, in season and filled with flavour.

T H E T E A M

James Campbell - Owner/Executive Chef

Front of House Staff

Elisha Nettleton - Owner/Social Media Chick

Matt Nettleton - Owner/Front of House

Sebastian Eales - Chef

He James - The Shearing Chef

He has moved home to Mooralla and now James Campbell is using his cooking skills at his local, rather than in the big city, good news for us! He dances, he sings (off-tune), and shears sheep on his days off, but most importantly the food that comes out of his kitchen is delicious, local and mostly inspired by good country cooking.

Seb - Jimmy's Right Hand Man

We welcomed chef Sebastian Eales to the team in 2020 and he couldn't be more suited to life in The Bunyip kitchen. Unfortunately he sings just as off tune as Jimmy and tells even worse jokes, but his cooking skills are on point and we honestly aren't sure how we ever survived without him!

Bryden - The Guy Down The Back

If you look into The Bunyip kitchen window you will see someone very busily doing all the very fiddly jobs that make Jimmy and Seb look good! Bryden comes to us from Ararat and his love of cooking is something that cannot be missed and we are so glad he sent out a random e-mail hoping we would let him come and learn for a couple days... and now he's a full time staff member!

Mel - Leader of the Team

When Mel is not busy keeping the boys in the kitchen organised or taking photos of their delicious food for the socials, Mel will most likely be the person who answers the phone or responds to emails when you contact us here at the Bunyip! Whether you are interested in making a reservation to dine, or want to organise a function, Mel is your point of contact.

Liv - Cocktail Connoisseur

If you feel like a refreshing or elegant cocktail to compliment your meal, Liv will be the one to ensure you are not disappointed! Our cocktail menu has been crafted to perfection by Liv, and it is a must try when at the Bunyip!

Aidan - Legendary Kitchenhand

Aidan has recently taken on an apprenticeship in the kitchen, somehow willing to continue to put up with Jimmy and Seb’s out of tune singing! After spending a few years as a junior, Aidan can sometimes be seen running meals to tables, and answering any questions relating to your scrumptious meals.

Front of House Staff

We have an incredible group of locals who work in our bar and kitchen to give you the best experience possible when you are at The Bunyip. They are a mix of local high school students, hospitality veterans and people who just really like to pour a beer and have a chat!