Pubs across Victoria will officially unite on Friday, May 8, for the inaugural Mates Day @ Your Local, a statewide initiative designed to encourage residents to check in on their friends and neighbors.
The event will see venues across the state host a variety of special activations, including themed lunches, extended happy hours, live music, raffles, and community fundraisers. The core goal is simple: spark real conversations and ensure no Victorian feels isolated.
AHA (Vic) deputy chief executive officer Matt Dawson emphasised that the initiative highlights the unique role hotels play in the state’s social fabric.
“Pubs have always been an important meeting place for Victorians,” Mr Dawson said.
“Mates Day @ Your Local is about making sure no one’s stuck on their own when they could be having a laugh with a mate at their local. It’s one Friday where the whole state leans in and shows that pubs aren’t just places to go — they’re places that bring people together.”
The initiative is backed by recent data highlighting a growing loneliness crisis. According to AIA Australia’s Social Connection Report, one in three Australians report feeling lonely. Conversely, the Where Everybody Knows Your Name Report by Peter K. Jonason, PhD, found that local hotels play a critical role in reducing social isolation by providing accessible, everyday spaces for connection.
Independent polling published in the AHA (Vic) State of the Industry Report further reinforces this, showing that 83 per cent of Victorians consider pubs vital to their social lives.
Local operators are already preparing for a big day.
By encouraging Victorians to extend an invitation to a workmate, family member, or old friend, the AHA (Vic) hopes Mates Day will become a meaningful annual fixture on the state’s calendar.
