Clarrie and Kit’s Narrow Escape

One of Canowindra’s most charming local stories began with a young couple, Clarrie and Kit, on their way to a community ball. Before the evening’s festivities, Clarrie convinced Kit to stop for a quick drink at the Victoria Hotel. It was a risky decision, as Kit’s parents had strictly forbidden her from visiting pubs—but young love often comes with a sense of adventure.

As the couple lingered longer than planned, the hotel’s mandatory 6 o’clock closing time arrived and police came to ensure everyone had left. Worried they would be caught, Clarrie helped Kit, still dressed in her elegant ball gown, climb through a side window in the ladies’ lounge. The daring escape allowed them to avoid embarrassment and continue their evening as if nothing had happened.

Today, that very window has been boarded up and preserved as part of the Old Vic Inn Art Gallery. It remains a delightful reminder of Canowindra’s colourful past, where local legends and romantic tales continue to bring the town’s history to life.