Historic Country Hotel – Canowindra NSW

Accommodation Available | Working Holiday Visa Holders Welcome

The Old Vic Hotel in Canowindra is looking for a chef, ideally with a partner or hospitality duo, to help launch a simple food and bar concept inside a historic country hotel.

We have recently taken over The Old Vic and are working to bring it back to life as a warm, character-filled accommodation, events and food destination in the heart of Canowindra.

Canowindra is a beautiful Central West NSW town surrounded by farms, wineries, tourism and weekend visitors, but there is currently very limited dining in town. We think there is a real opportunity for the right person to create something simple, local and profitable.

The opportunity
We are interested in a 3-month chef residency / trial, with the potential to extend if it works well.

The venue has a dining room and bar that can seat up to around 80 guests, but we want to start small and build properly. The idea would be to begin with a focused offering, likely Thursday to Sunday, and grow from there as the menu, staffing and demand are proven.

The ideal setup
This would suit:

a chef wanting to run their own kitchen without taking on a full restaurant lease
a couple where one person is kitchen-focused and the other can help with front-of-house, bar, housekeeping and guest experience
a small hospitality duo with energy, maturity and a practical mindset
working holiday visa holders looking for a live-in regional NSW hospitality opportunity
someone excited by the idea of helping build a destination venue from the ground up
Accommodation is available on-site at the hotel.

How the arrangement could work
We are open to shaping the arrangement around the right person.

This could include accommodation on-site, agreed paid work for hotel duties, and a structure that gives the right person genuine upside, not just a standard wage. There may be a profit-share or bonus arrangement linked to the food and bar concept once direct costs are covered.

We would agree the details clearly before starting, including what costs are covered, how revenue is tracked, and how any upside is shared.

What we need from you
For the chef/kitchen side:

ability to design and run a small, profitable menu
confidence with ordering, prep, stock control and kitchen hygiene
ability to cook consistently without overcomplicating things
interest in using local produce where practical
calm, practical approach to service
willingness to start lean and build carefully
For the partner/front-of-house side, ideally:

bar service and customer service
helping run the dining room
guest check-ins and guest experience
housekeeping and room turnovers
event setup and pack-down
general help around the hotel
You do not need to be perfect at everything, but you do need to be reliable, honest, energetic and comfortable living in a small country town.

Working holiday / visa note
This role may suit Working Holiday Visa holders, 417 visa holders, 462 visa holders, backpackers, travelling couples or hospitality workers looking for a live-in regional NSW job.

We can provide proper payslips and employment records. Applicants seeking 88-day, second-year or third-year visa specified work should confirm their own eligibility, as hospitality roles do not qualify in all regional locations.

Search terms: working holiday visa, WHV, 417 visa, 462 visa, backpacker job, live-in job, accommodation included, regional NSW, country hotel, hospitality couple, chef job, cook job, 88 days, specified work, second year visa, third year visa.

About The Old Vic
The Old Vic is a historic hotel in the centre of Canowindra, NSW. We have guest rooms, shared lounges, conferencing spaces, a bar, dining areas, garden spaces and a beautiful old building we are gradually restoring.

To apply
Please send a short introduction, your hospitality experience, the food concept you would be excited to run, whether you are applying alone/as a couple/as a duo, your availability, visa/work rights if relevant, and any sample menus, photos or references.

Email: gday@theoldvic.com.au
Phone: 02 6344 1009
Location: The Old Vic Hotel, 56 Gaskill Street, Canowindra NSW 2804

• Accmodation: Included
• Meals: Included
• Sponsorship: Opportunities Available
• 2nd Year Visa: Eligible Work