When the first tavern opened here in 1873 it was on the stock route from Melbourne to Gippsland. Thirsty drovers stopped to refresh themselves and have a yarn before continuing down the unsealed road on horseback. The humble single story weatherboard hotel became the centre of village life for travellers and pioneers. The small town settlement rising around the pub was first named for the busy, bohemian city streets of London’s Camden Town. This photograph shows the local Camden Sporting Club meeting here after a race in 1888. The place was humming with locals then, and the Camden Hotel is once more a favoured neighbourhood haunt.