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Coronial Inquest Finds Daylesford Pub Had No Outdoor Dining Permit at Time of Fatal Crash

Testimony revealed limited council inspection capacity as the inquiry examines permit lapses and road‑safety changes.

The Victorian venue five patrons killed by a diabetic driver were dining at did not have an outdoor seating and dining permit at the time of the crash, an inquest was told. NewsWire / Josie Hayden
Daylesford hotel lacked valid permit at time of fatal crash, inquest hears. Picture by Lachlan Bence.
Daylesford crash inquest told Vic's laws leave outdoor diners exposed. Picture by Lachlan Bence
Two water jugs, paper cups and a bucket sit on a table that has a broken wooden stool.

Overview

  • A vehicle drove into outdoor diners and killed five people in Daylesford on November 5, 2023, when patrons sat on council land next to Albert Street.
  • Hepburn Shire Council evidence confirmed the Royal Daylesford Hotel’s COVID-era outdoor dining permission had expired and a renewal applied for on September 9, 2023, remained unprocessed at the time of the crash.
  • Council witnesses said there were no known site-inspection records for the hotel’s outdoor area and that a two-person local laws team limited proactive enforcement.
  • Medical and court evidence presented at the inquest says the driver, a person with type 1 diabetes, suffered a severe hypoglycaemic episode before losing control, and criminal charges against him were later dropped.
  • Since the crash the council has lowered the town speed limit, installed boulders at the site and proposed closing the nearby intersection, and the coronial inquiry is expected to consider changes to permit rules and roadside safety standards.