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

Elisha Nettleton - Owner/Social Media Chick

James Campbell - Owner/Executive Chef

Matt Nettleton - Owner/Front of House

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.

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.

Aidan - The Main Right Hand Man

Aidan has been a cornerstone of the kitchen for years, consistently holding the team together with his calm presence and steady hands – even while enduring Jimmy’s out-of-tune singing! Starting out as a junior, he’s grown into an essential part of the crew and continues to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.

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!