History
The Federal Hotel was built in 1889 after John Gray, who owned the punt at Swan Hill, secured the land and gained a NSW liquor licence.
The weatherboard Hotel was completed in 1890, six years before the first lift span bridge on the Murray was built in 1896. “Puddi's” Bistro is named after a former licensee, George Puddicombe, who operated the hotel from 1915 until his death in 1939. Mr Puddicombe was a prominent and popular citizen of Swan Hill for many years.
When the hotel was being renovated in the early 2000’s, a brick facade bearing “Puddicombe's Federal Hotel” was revealed, and in wanting to retain some history of the hotel, the bistro has been named “Puddi's”.
