EPISODE 2: WELCOME TO THE YARRAVEL HOTEL
SEAN TITHERADGE’S RETRO REVIVAL AND A TIME CAPSULE OF AUSSIE PUB AND CONFECTIONERY CULTURE
For the second stop on the 2025 Man Cave Tour, we travelled north to Yarravel, New South Wales. A quiet pocket of land near Kempsey that carries the hum of old stories, cold beers, and genuine hospitality.
This is where we met Sean Titheradge, a familiar face inside the A Man & His Cave: Man Caves Australia Facebook community, now home to more than 40,000 collectors, creators, and cave-builders.
Sean’s man cave is not just a place to unwind. It is a handcrafted time capsule built with respect for Australian pub culture, nostalgia, and the satisfaction of making something properly by hand.
THE MAN BEHIND THE CAVE
Sean has spent 23 years working as a prison warden. When he clocks off, structure gives way to darts, laughter, and nostalgia.
His cave has become a genuine community hub, hosting Thursday night darts sessions where mates happily drive up to an hour just to be part of it. Good music, cold beers, and endless banter fill the space.
Sean does not just collect. He builds. Cabinetry, paintwork, floor markings, and dartboard surrounds. If it exists in the cave, there is a strong chance Sean designed and constructed it himself.
DARTS, DESIGN, AND DIY MASTERY
One of the first things that draws your eye is the dart setup. Three boards, cleanly aligned, each treated as its own feature.
One station features a modern Omni Darts Matrix, with four cameras trained on the board and linked to a screen that tracks throws and scores in real time. Traditional pub sport meets modern technology in a way that feels natural.
The throw lines are set precisely at 2.37 metres, built from gyprock and finished by hand. Craftsmanship disguised as leisure.
For anyone planning a serious games zone, this setup sets a high benchmark. (SHOP DART BOARD CABINETS)
THE TOOHEYS SHRINE
Every great man cave has a centrepiece. For Sean, it is Tooheys.
A lifelong fan of the iconic Australian brewery, Sean’s collection spans rare vintage cans from the era of can openers through to modern releases. His passion earned him a feature in the Tooheys documentary The Tooheysium, filmed when his cave was far smaller.
Today, the setup spans a full double-shed. One half serves as a retro showpiece, while the other stores hundreds of unopened boxes waiting to be rediscovered.
Beer memorabilia remains one of the strongest visual anchors in any man cave. (SHOP THE TOOHEYS RANGE)
THE MILK BAR CORNER AND A SWEET SLICE OF HISTORY
Sean’s newest project is his Milk Bar Corner, completed just a week before our visit. It captures the spirit of Australia’s classic corner stores.
Vintage soft drink bottles, lolly packets, and cigarette memorabilia fill the space. Some pieces are original. Others are handcrafted replicas recreated from scratch.
At the centre sits an 80-year-old glass cabinet salvaged from a former post office. Inside are original cigarette cartons topped with an antique cigarette price board that draws an ironic comparison to modern-day costs.
The soft drink collection includes rare cans and bottles, including one-of-one pieces valued well over $1,000.
For collectors chasing nostalgia with visual impact, this corner delivers.
HANDCRAFTED SIGNS WITH A VINTAGE SOUL
Gold reflections and mirrored surfaces catch the light throughout the cave. These are Sean’s handmade signs.
Each is built from mirrored sheets and stencils, sprayed with gold paint, then carved by hand using a scalpel. The finished pieces look authentically aged, like signage pulled from a mid-century pub wall.
The same style extends into his dunny room out back, where red walls and gold accents create a distinct atmosphere separate from the main cave.
Signage here is not decoration. It is craft. (SHOP LED SIGNS)
A TIME CAPSULE OF AUSSIE PUB HISTORY
Sean’s bar brings everything together. Traditional in shape, elevated through detail.
Black-painted sections are paired with gold accents that glow under neon light. Behind the bar sits a timeline of Australian drinking history, with beer cans dating back to the 1940s alongside original signage from Tooheys, KB, Resch’s, and VB.
Off to the side is a quieter display. A cabinet of Australian war memorabilia containing medals, badges, and artefacts from both World Wars.
FAQs: BUILDING A MAN CAVE WITH HISTORY AND HEART
How can I give my man cave a vintage aesthetic?
Combine authentic collectables with thoughtful DIY touches. Paint, lighting, and finishes do most of the work.
Where can I find retro memorabilia?
Start locally with garage sales, flea markets, and regional antique stores. Online collector communities are also valuable sources.
What’s the secret to a great man cave layout?
Create clear zones such as bar, entertainment, display, and conversation areas. Each should flow naturally into the next.
THE SPIRIT OF THE TOUR
Sean’s cave is more than a collection. It is a living archive of Australian pub culture.
Every can, dartboard, and glow of neon reflects mateship, craftsmanship, and pride in building something personal.
For a deeper dive into Australian beer, cigarettes, confectionery, and soft drinks through Sean’s eyes, this episode is one to watch in full.
Next stop brings another legend, another story, and more inspiration for your own sanctuary.
The 2025 Man Cave Tour is rolling on.
