Under the Victoria Park train bridge in Abbotsford, a little corner presides over the ever-long commuters, dog piss and those traipsing down that end of Johnston Street.

Perhaps, you have loitered there after dark or bought a hot pie from the servo near Lulie Street when you have been stranded drunk. The pedestrian crossing is wide and sure of itself, the brickwork of the station and surrounds are red and old as Collingwood. Humble shop facades lean low over the street as they double file into Fitzroy.

A decision to better this alcove brought three folks together: a builder, a thinker and a doer. What could a corner give and what could they give a corner that didn’t involve heroin? Indian Root Pills, of course.

The answer was written — quite literally — on the wall under years of black paint. A cure for indigestion-the simple remedy-best blood purifier- all to-have-you-in-good-order was in the form of a little pill.

The supposed creator was a Dr. Morse, circa 19th century USA and the brainchild of the Comstock family (of the unfortunate last name). The Doctor was a character, the spruiker and pusher-man — he could clean you right up with a wink.

He sold his story for decades: an American Indian saved Dr. Morse’s life with a remedy. The recipe was the secret to the Indian Root Pills. The End

Excited by the images of an American Indian fighting a bear, Jon Costello, Anthony Daniels and Peter Walsh decided to take on the wild promises of Dr. Morse but without the gypsy spruiking. The little corner on Johnston Street would cure all hunger and thirst ailments with the help of coffee, alcohol and good food.

Damm Fine Food is recognised as a leading Melbourne event management and catering company, providing imaginative food and design from boardrooms to weddings and some of Victoria’s largest events.

Georgina Damm’s philosophy is that sharing fresh, lovingly prepared food is nurturing and good for the soul. And that experience is made more joyful by transforming spaces that delight and surprise.

The Ed Dixon Food Design adventure started in 2001, since then we have been creating extraordinary functions across Melbourne as well as catering daily for corporate and private clients. Events vary from intimate morning teas and boardroom lunches, to large seated events and gala dinners, encompassing themed cocktail parties, store openings and city and country weddings of any size.

Our people are passionate, professional, personable and fun. Our commitment to the design of all event elements is evident through venue sourcing, furniture, floral and decor styling. Delivering memorable, creative and vibrant experiences to our clients and sharing our passion for imaginative menus and fresh food. We value locally grown, seasonal and ethically sourced produce.

We work with great people – our energetic staff, our committed suppliers and our highly valued clients.

Welcome to The Yarra Hotel Abbotsford. Depending how you look at it, we are either one year or 160 years old. We took over the joint in September 2012 and spent six months trying to find the old hotel that was underneath there somewhere… and when we finally did, weren’t we ecstatic! It’s a ripper! The beer garden can be seen from the moon and the side bar/dining area (The J.P. Saunders Room) is an absolute haven when intimacy is what you require.

Food wise; we’ve got the classics covered. The kitchen is open until 9.30pm most nights and open for lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Yarra is perfect for a party and we’re here to help you with your special celebration. The menu is a fine thing indeed and can be tailored to suit your budget and group size. Just ask our friendly staff at the bar or shoot us an email.

There’s always bound to be some fine live original music coming up. We tend to have something playing at least four – if not five or six – nights a week from 8.30pm Monday – Saturday and 4pm on Sundays.

We’ve had some cracking shows in our first 2 years of operation and there’s some pearlers coming up.