A Storied Past Since 1856.
The Exchange Hotel has stood as a pillar of Port Melbourne’s community for 169 years, evolving alongside the bustling port town it calls home. First licensed in 1856 as the United States Hotel, it became the Exchange Hotel in 1872, cementing its role as a maritime hub for stevedores and sailors returning from long voyages.
In 1916, a significant expansion saw the hotel take its current form, with its name and date still proudly displayed on the façade today. A century later, the Exchange Hotel remains one of Port Melbourne’s few surviving historic pubs, a testament to its enduring importance and character.
The pub has seen many transformations, including a brief stint as Molly Blooms, a beloved Irish pub in the 1980s. But in 2006, its original name was restored, bringing the Exchange back to its roots as a neighbourhood institution.
Through wars, waves of migration, and decades of change, the Exchange Hotel has remained a gathering place, filled with stories of the sea, the city, and its people. As it approaches its 170th year, the spirit of old Port Melbourne lives on within its walls.
