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Neighbourhood > Guest Character Profiles > Jack Lassiter Alan Hopgood

Jack Lassiter 1986
Marital Status: Adeline [Addie] (died 1985), Andrea Townsend (1986-)
Occupation: Gold Prospector, Owner of Lassiter's Hotel

Eccentric Jack Lassiter made his money in gold prospecting out in Western Australia and moved to Erinsborough with his wife, Addie. He took over a local hotel, naming it Lassiter’s, and created The Waterhole pub, an exact replica of his local pub back in W.A. Despite being the owner, Jack refused to live inside the hotel, instead setting up his caravan by the lake. Jack was often mistaken for famous gold prospector Lewis Lasseter, which he used to drum up business for the hotel on the odd occasion. When Addie died, Jack retreated into himself slightly, with many hotel guests mistaking him for the odd-job man.

Paul Robinson was anxious to buy Lassiter’s from Jack, but the owner seemed like he didn’t want to budge for the time being. When Paul noticed that Jack had taken quite a shine to Andrea Townsend, he paid her to try and convince Jack to sell. Jack quickly cottoned on to the plan and he decided to get his own back on Paul. He went to the Daniels Corporation office and told Paul that he’d decided to sell up. Paul was thrilled, but a week later, Jack changed his mind and Paul realised that he’d been on the receiving end of some of his own ruthless treatment. Meanwhile, Jack and Andrea were growing closer. After tiptoeing around each other for a while, Andrea asked him over for dinner. It quickly became obvious, however, that Andrea’s son, Bradley, wasn’t keen on the blossoming relationship, as he told Jack that he was too old for his mum and that their kissing was disgusting. Noticing that Andrea didn’t even reprimand Bradley for his behaviour, Jack smacked him and found himself thrown out of the house.

Jack later returned and apologised and he also managed to have a quiet word with Bradley, explaining that he wouldn’t come between him and his mother. It looked like the damage had been done, though, until one evening when Jack was having dinner with the Ramsay family, by way of Madge apologising since her brother, Tom, had been trying to set the two of them up with each other. Throughout the evening, Jack could only think, and talk, about Andrea. He decided to go over and see her, putting his feelings on the line. Andrea was happy with this development, but became subdued when Des announced his engagement to Daphne, as she realised that she and Bradley would have to move out. Jack took the opportunity to propose to her and she accepted, but first warned him that she cared deeply for him but didn’t love him. Jack realised that this could be his final chance at happiness and told her that he’d settle for just being liked. He then announced his plans to sell the hotel and move away from Erinsborough to the outback. Andrea was unhappy about this and Jack realised it, so, at the last minute, he told her that their plans had changed and they’d be leaving for Paris after the wedding in Perth.

Before leaving, Jack told Paul that he wasn’t quite ready to sell the hotel. He gave Paul first refusal, however, asking him to manage the place for the six months he was away. When that time was up, Jack contacted the Daniels Corporation from Europe, where he’d decided to extend his tour, and announced that he would happily sell his business on to Paul and Rosemary.

Notes: Alan Hopgood later worked as a Neighbours writer.

Biography by Steve

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