Why a country pub known as the ‘freedom hotel’ by anti-vax mandate protestors was ordered to remove a symbolic Australian flag from its roof
- Country pub ordered to take down flag associated with anti-vaccine mandate
- Caledonian Hotel, in NSW, told to remove Australian Federation flag from roof
- Letter from council said the flag was added without development approval
A country pub crowned the ‘Freedom Hotel’ has been ordered to take down a controversial flag associated with the anti-vaccine movement.
The Caledonian Hotel in Singleton, in regional NSW, was notified by mail in March that it had 28 days to remove the Australian Federation flag.
Singleton Council sent a letter explaining it had received a complaint the flag had been added to the heritage building without development approval.
It is the second time the regional hotel has made headlines after it flouted Covid restrictions and continued to serve unvaccinated patrons in 2021.
A country pub crowned the ‘Freedom Hotel’ has been ordered to take down a controversial flag associated with the anti-vaccine movement
![Licensee Brad Hill took to Facebook to slam the decision and defend the display of the flag](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/09/02/56397257-10701815-image-a-12_1649469444330.jpg)
Licensee Brad Hill took to Facebook to slam the decision and defend the display of the flag
A photograph of the hotel shows a flag of the Union Jack unfurled on the roof that is painted red along with six white stars.
The flag has become a symbol of anti-government and anti-vaccine sentiment with protestors frequently spotted waving it at rallies during the Covid pandemic.
Licensee Brad Hill took to Facebook to slam the decision and defend the display of the flag.
‘This flag on our roof represents what we at the Cali stand for,’ the post read. ‘The law of the land where nobody sits above the law.
‘Basic human rights that no one is entitled to take. Freedom of choice that should never be questioned. No discrimination or segregation that is imposed upon us by a disgusting mainstream media barrage.’
The post claimed ‘evil forces’ were threatening ‘our very own existence’ and core values of the community.
‘Freedom to live our lives and treat others with the same dignity and respect that any individual deserves,’ the post read.
‘Do no harm to others. Maintain the right to peacefully protest. Basically everything that is being methodically stripped away from all of humanity including the display of this federation flag is what we stand for.’
The letter from council has sparked outrage in the local community with one resident kickstarting a change.org petition that has attracted more than 1,700 signatures.
![The regional hotel made headlines in 2021 after it flouted Covid restrictions and continued to serve unvaccinated patrons](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/09/03/56397783-10701815-image-a-16_1649469745661.jpg)
The regional hotel made headlines in 2021 after it flouted Covid restrictions and continued to serve unvaccinated patrons
![A banner was unfurled at the front of the pub welcoming both vaccinated and unvaccinated patrons last year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/09/03/56397261-10701815-image-a-15_1649469668352.jpg)
A banner was unfurled at the front of the pub welcoming both vaccinated and unvaccinated patrons last year
‘As a born and bred local I don’t see the problem with the Caledonian Hotel displaying the flag on their roof it not only adds character to the building but also shows their knowledge of Australian history,’ the campaign reads.
‘Singleton Council should be ashamed of themselves, please show your support for the Caledonian Hotel, the right to display/fly the flag and most importantly Freedom by signing.’
Singleton Council Director Infrastructure and Planning Services Justin Fitzpatrick-Barr said the pub needed to submit a development application and wait for approval before it displayed the flag.
‘The Caledonian Hotel is listed in the Singleton Local Environmental Plan as an item of local heritage significance,’ he told Gold Coast Bulletin.
‘It was brought to council’s attention that a flag structure had been mounted on the roof of the hotel.
‘To place a structure on a heritage building requires development consent.’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk