Meet the publicans behind the bar at Queensland’s most iconic pubs
Welcome to the wild, wild west. Sit down, grab a beer and say g’day to the outback publicans behind Queensland’s most remote pubs.
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There is a story in every Queensland pub and the publicans of these institutions often know them best.
Queenslanders are known for their love of a fresh frothy, with the Sunshine State home to dozens of iconic drinking establishments.
Every iconic outback country pub has a different feel about it, its own atmosphere, its own character.
These institutions are often run by a friendly face that knows every inch of the public houses they operate.
These are their stories.
Betoota Pub
The Betoota Hotel is one of the most remote pubs in Australia and is located in Betoota, which has a population of three according to the 2023 Census.
Built in the 1880s with sandstone and timber floors, the Betoota Hotel is the last standing building in the ghost town.
One of those three residents is current publican Robert Haken, who purchased the establishment from the couple long-time owner Sigmund ‘Simon’ Remienko had left it to.
Mr Haken previously ran Logan Village Smash Repairs, a business that specialised in vehicle restoration and repairing smashed up race cars – including V8 Supercars.
However after losing his son in a quad bike accident and the subsequent collapse of his smash repair business, Mr Haken was inspired to acquire the pub.
“I’d been to Betoota a few times in my life, so I went back there all these years later and there was all this history just rotting away into the desert and I thought somebody has to do something, so that is what saved me and got me going again,” he said.
Mr Haken said it has its challenges running a pub in the middle of nowhere.
“There is nothing else in town, it’s just us, there is one building and that’s the pub,” he said.
“I’ve turned into a barman from a panel beater spray painter, turned into a fridge mechanic, generator mechanic, tyre fitter – you name it, I do it.
“There’s a lot of things you learn very quickly to survive.”
Mr Haken said there have been some wild nights at the pub when the station hands roll into ‘town’ every few weeks.
“Every three weeks or so the young ringers come into town and let their hair down,” he said.
“They’ve got their dogs, they’ve had a few drinks, they get up to some pretty fancy antics.
“There’s not too many clothes left on and all that sort of stuff.”
Walkabout Creek Hotel, McKinlay
Walkabout Creek Hotel is a true blue Australian pub made famous by Crocodile Dundee.
Originally called the Federal Hotel, the pub was built in 1900 and licensed the following year.
While the namesake Walkabout Creek flows through the Northern Territory, the pub used in the movie is located in McKinlay, a town with a population of 10 people about 100km away from Julia Creek and Cloncurry in remote northwest Queensland.
The name of the pub was changed to the Walkabout Creek Hotel after the first Crocodile Dundee movie, which was released in 1986.
The pub is filled with memorabilia from the film, with the bar from the movie located in the beer garden and used for functions.
Publicans Frank and Debbie Wust have owned the iconic pub since 2014.
“If you’re going to buy a pub, buy a famous one,” Ms Wust said.
Ms Wust said people travel from far and wide to visit the iconic pub.
“We’ve had people from the UK and America come here,” she said.
“We had a husband and wife catch a 25-hour bus ride from Brisbane, spend the afternoon and evening here, before heading back the next day.
“So two days on a bus just to spend a few hours here.”
She said there have been many memorable moments over the years.
“You get your die hard fans come through,” she said.
“Quite often someone will carry a blow up crocodile in or come in with a knife, just re-enacting the movie.
“We have had people flying drones into the pub, a talented man flew a drone around the pub, filmed all his mates, and then off they went.”
As well as hosting the stars of Crocodile Dundee Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, and David Gulpilil the pub has had other famous visitors.
“We have lots of famous people coming through, Alfie Langer, Jeff Thomson, Leroy Loggins, Dick Smith flew in one day with his family,” she said.
“You never know who you’re going to have walking in the door.”
After 10 years of owning the pub, Ms Wust said it is now up for sale.
“It was always a plan to own it for 10 years and then put it on the market, so here we are,” she said.
“We’re getting on, we want to retire, make the most of our days, but it’s a good business for those who are interested.”
Birdsville Hotel
Most people are happy to drink a beer after making the long journey to and arriving at the Birdsville Hotel in far west outback Queensland.
Hailed as Australia’s most iconic outback pub, the Birdsville Hotel is a popular spot to pull up for a cold one, especially in September.
Located almost 1600km west of Brisbane and 13km away from the South Australian border, the Birdsville Hotel has been serving pub feeds, ice cold beers, with good old fashioned service since 1884.
The pub becomes packed to the rafters when over 5000 people drop by the outback town for the Birdsville Races in September.
Birdsville Hotel manager Ben Fullagar said most patrons are glad to walk through the doors of the pub.
“It’s the first place they stop at when they arrive in town,” he said.
“It’s such a big journey to get here, so when people arrive at Birdsville, they feel like they have accomplished something.
“They may have gone all the way across the Simpson Desert or if they have come from the west from the Northern Territory, there’s 1140 sand hills they have to drive over.
“I think people like the experience of arriving at the pub, where we’ve got cold beer and warm beds waiting for them after such a big journey.”
Mr Fullagar said while most people arrive by road, people often fly to the pub.
“We have a really big runway that’s probably longer than the town,” he said.
“It’s 35 metres from where you park your airplane to the front bar.”
Stonehenge Hotel
The Stonehenge Hotel is a small town pub with plenty of character owned by two mates who made the decision to buy the pub while on the beers.
Established in the 1800s, the pub is located in the heart of the outback town of Stonehenge, which is 151km from Longreach on the Thomson Development Road.
The pub serves a small community of 1500 people and offers a place for locals and tourists alike, to pull up, unwind and have a yarn over a cold drink and quality tucker.
The pub gained a new lease of life in 2022 when two men in their 20s Grant Champion and Tom Auriac, who have known each other since childhood, decided that it would be a great idea to buy the pub from publican Tony Jackson after a heavy drinking session.
“Tony mentioned one night that he was looking at selling,” Mr Champion said.
“Tom and I looked at each other and said we should f**king do it.
“We did what we usually do and had a few too many drinks.
“We would have polished off half a carton and then we had a few sneaky rums so we were fairly bent.
“The next day we talked to Jacko, things got rolling, and we went ahead and f**king bought it.”
Mr Auriac recollected in his version of events that the pair consumed north of 15 beers on the night they decided to buy the pub.
“The previous publican Tony (Jackson) put the idea in our heads about possibly buying the pub,” Mr Auriac said.
“We ended up drinking about 15/16 beers, about half a carton later and a bit of rum, we thought bugger it, we may as well give it a crack.”
Mr Jackson provided vendor finance to the young publicans, allowing them to make weekly payments until the sale price was reached.
The pub was fully paid off in February last year and now the two mates from Yeppoon own the establishment outright.
“She’s a good little pub, the pub’s not very big, but it’s got a lot of character, people love to f**king come in and have a cold beer or two,” Mr Champion said.
“It’s a good pub in a very small community, it’s a little bit like Netflix show ‘Last Stop Larrimah,’ without all the killing,” Mr Auriac said.
While there have been countless big nights at the pub, Mr Auriac said the wildest moment he had witnessed from behind the bar was on a bucks night, when a firework flew inside the pub and blew up.
“We had a bucks party one night, and one of the boys went across the road and let off a firework, but it fell over as they lit it and it shot straight into the pub and blew up,” he said.
“It shot straight through the doors and almost bloody burned the pub down.
“After that we said all right boys, cut it out.
“When there is this much open space, boys will be boys.”
Hotel Euramo
The Hotel Euramo is a small country pub that occasionally turns into an impromptu yacht club during severe flood events in North Queensland.
Hotel Euramo is a traditional pub with friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere in Euramo, which is located 8km south of Tully – one of the wettest towns in Australia.
The pub earned its name the ‘Euramo Yacht Club’, after patrons arrived at the venue by tinnie during a major flood event as a result of Cyclone Jasper in December, 2023.
The pub became a yacht club again during the most recent North Queensland flood event.
Subsequently, the revival of the name has seen the venue become officially named the ‘Hotel Euramo Yacht Club,’ on Google.
Hotel Euramo owner Olenka ‘Ollie’ Muzic said the venue has become known for its flood-related popularity.
“Euramo is where two rivers meet and we are situated right near the wettest town in Australia which is Tully,” she said.
“The Hotel Euramo has been renowned for many years as the pub where people turn up in tinnies.
“It’s a bucket list item for people who just want to get to the hotel via boat.
“This most recent flood, we had 23 boats, plus one canoe moored at the pub.”
Ms Muzic said it has led to the pub forming the ‘Euramo Yacht Club,’ with membership shirts.
“It gives you free mooring during flood times,” she said.
The Oasis Roadhouse, Conjuboy
The smallest pub in Australia that has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records can be found inside the Oasis Roadhouse in North Queensland.
Standing at 1.2m x 1.2m, the bar within the Oasis Roadhouse at Conjuboy, which is just over 300km west of Townsville, can comfortably accommodate two people at the bar and about three to four people in total.
The tiny bar has been officially recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records and ranks among the world’s 10 smallest bars.
It is a notable tourist attraction, with the walls of the venue having been written on by patrons from across the globe.
Oasis Roadhouse owner Josh Shorey said what the pub lacks in size, it makes up for in character.
“You open the door up and you’re in this little box of an area,” Mr Shorey said.
“Basically, you can only get two people standing side-by-side at the bar itself.
“We get a lot of travellers that pop in to have a beer and have a look at the pub.”
Mr Shorey said the capacity of the pub is put to the test on occasion.
“If you really want to jam in there, probably about 12 to 15 people will cram in,” he said.
Nindigully Pub
Affectionately known as ‘The Gully’, the Nindigully Pub is famous for featuring in a movie starring Hugh Jackman, its massive burgers, and outback hospitality.
One of Queensland’s oldest continually licensed hotels, beers have been poured at the Nindigully Pub since 1864 when it was issued its liquor licence.
In the early days, the pub was a Cobb and Co coach change over station.
Over the years, the Nindigully Pub has served as a hub for the local area and being the watering hole of choice for the region’s farmers, which have been critical to the pub’s survival to the present day.
Notably, the pub and surrounding areas featured in the 1999 film Paperback Hero starring Hugh Jackman and Claudia Karvan.
The pub is also famous for its super-sized burgers including the 5.5kg “Road Train” burger which contains a 1.5kg house-made beef patty, specially made bread to fit, and can feed up to six people.
There is also the 25kg Real Big Mack featuring specially made buns in the shape of a prime mover and a separate trailer behind which can serve a bus load of people.
The pub was purchased by its current owner Steve ‘Burnsy’ Burns in 2002.
Mr Burns said the Nindigully Pub is one of the most iconic pubs in Queensland with a rich history.
“It’s that sort of pub you walk in the door, sit up at the bar, you look around and you go, holy s**t this is Australia,” he said.
“The pub walks and talks its own story without anybody having to tell you, the doorknobs from the 1860s show it.
“You can sit there basically on the front veranda looking at the Moonie River and you’re looking at the same view that someone sat there and looked at in 1864.”
Mr Burns added that people from all walks of life talk to each other at the pub.
“People come here as a stranger and leave as a friend,” he said.
“The pub just has that feel about it that says, come over and talk to me.”
One of the wildest moments Mr Burns recalled from his time at the pub was watching people float down the river on kegs during a major flood.
“During the floods of 2010, they decided to do keg racing down the river,” he said.
“They were going down the river on the kegs as far as they could.
“They were also fishing off the front veranda as well at the pub.”
North Gregory Hotel, Winton
There is no other pub in Queensland that can claim to have as many key moments in Australia’s history take place within their walls, than the North Gregory Hotel.
Established in 1879, the North Gregory Hotel is an iconic pub along Elderslie St in the major outback town of Winton.
Famously, the hotel played a key role in the history of Waltzing Matilda.
It was on a piano within the venue where Banjo Paterson first performed the tune – which is claimed by some to be the country’s unofficial national anthem – on April 6, 1895.
It is also claimed that early meetings that would lay the foundations for Qantas were held at the venue in the 1920s.
Over the years the hotel has had famous guests including former US President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Prior to his presidency, Johnson had an overnight stay at the North Gregory Hotel after his aircraft was forced to land due to mechanical issues at Carisbrooke Station in 1942.
Publican Chris Moore said the North Gregory Hotel has a well known story.
“It is a very iconic pub, it was where Banjo Patterson performed Waltzing Matilda for the first time,” he said.
“We’ve had Lyndon B Johnson stay here.
“It’s good to have such an iconic pub like the North Gregory, I find out something new about this place every day.”
Mr Moore said people from across the country visit the pub.
“It’s almost like without moving away from the bar, you can actually see the whole of Australia,” he said.
That’s probably one of the best things about working in a pub environment, is just hearing the stories from all the people that drop in.”
While Mr Moore has experienced plenty of memorable moments from behind the bar, the local footy team’s Silly Sunday is an annual highlight.
“The best thing that happens here every year is Silly Sunday with the local footy team, they seem to really turn it on that Sunday,” he said.
“Win, lose or draw, you’re always going to have a fairly interesting day.
“Last year, we had a man in a gimp suit with a sex toy attached on top of a monument waving at tourists and directing one of the tourists to reverse park down the main street.
“We’ve had some interesting costumes come through over the years.”
Wellshot Hotel, Ilfracombe
One of Queensland’s best pubs that is referred to as a “Crab Pot” can be found in a small outback town about 1000km away from Brisbane.
The Wellshot Hotel at Ilfracombe, found between Longreach and Barcaldine, is renowned for big pub meals and the “coldest beer in the west”.
The pub found its permanent home in Ilfracombe in 1890, after being relocated several times by bullock and cart along the railway line to where it stands today and being named the “Wellshot Hotel”.
In the present day, the pub serves as a hub for the small rural community of around 130 people and draws straight talking locals and visitors from all walks of life.
Publican and Longreach Regional Council Cr Tracy Hatch has been running the Wellshot Hotel since October 2016.
“It is just where everyone meets,” Cr Hatch said.
“The pub is nicknamed the Crab Pot because once you’re here, you can’t get out.
“It’s just a very welcoming place.”
Ms Hatch said she bought the pub without her husband Paul knowing.
“He says that he still doesn’t like it, but I’m pretty sure he’s actually warming to it,” she said.
Since then, Ms Hatch and her husband have developed the Wellshot into a hotel enjoyed by tourists and locals alike, with the welcoming atmosphere and friendly service leading to the pub claiming several awards including the Best Pub in Outback Queensland Award in 2019.
Ms Hatch also claimed the Queensland Hotel Associations (QHA) Hotelier of the Year Award in 2023.
“We’ve picked up a few medals along the way, it makes a difference when you enjoy what you do,” she said.
In the warmer months, Ms Hatch said the pub employs a unique method to cool down patrons.
“We have been known to shut the doors, unload the ice machine load on the floor, and people start sliding along the floor,” she said.
“We’ve been known to do that when it’s really hot.”
Club Hotel, Croydon
The Club Hotel in Far North Queensland has a unique air ventilation system, has been visited by several Australian cricketers, and is said to be haunted.
Located in the historic outback town of Croydon, the Club Hotel offers a glimpse into the gold rush era in the northern parts of the state.
Established in 1887, the Club Hotel at Croydon, which is 530km west from Cairns, is the last surviving original pub built during this historic period in the region.
It was a place where prospectors and pioneers congregated in their pursuit of fortune.
In the present day, the pub is a place where visitors can base themselves while exploring the region, the Savannah Way or before riding on the Gulflander train.
The venue becomes a bustling hub during popular events such as the Barra and Bream Fishing Comp held at Lake Belmore, as well as the well-known Poddy Dodgers Festival.
Current publican Eva Garde has owned the Club Hotel for 32 years and believes it is special because it has character.
“It’s one of the few old iconic hotels that are left,” she said.
“When you walk in, it’s got a really high ceiling, because it’s so hot here.
“It’s not airconditioned, but there’s a hole near the last bit of timber, that’s where the air can get in, so it ventilates it – I think it is special because of that.”
Ms Garde said there have also been reports of a resident female ghost from those who stayed at the hotel.
“We used to have people stay and sleep in the rooms upstairs and there was always talk about a ghost being there,” she said.
“You know a door would open, you’d hear noises.
“At one stage we had a linen cupboard, but the girls would put stuff away, and then it’d be moved.
“You do still hear funny noises up there.”
Ms Garde said several Australia Test cricketers have dropped into the pub for a beer.
“We’ve had Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds there, they were actually friends with a bloke down the road that had Esmeralda Station,” she said.
“Merv Hughes and Jeff Thomson have also been here.”
Noccundra Hotel
A sandstone pub in far-west Queensland, the historic outback establishment Noccundra Hotel is unlike many other bars in the state and was once owned by Kerry Packer.
Established in 1882, the Noccundra Hotel is the last surviving building in the town, which is over 1100km west of Brisbane and has a permanent population of three and one registered resident – the current publican Neil Turner.
The pub was made from sandstone that was quarried in Milparinka NSW and transported to Noccundra by camel train, with the liquor licence for the venue granted in 1886.
Over the years, the pub has served as a place of connection for the region’s residents, hosting events such as the Noccundra Rodeo.
At one stage, the pub was previously owned by media mogul Kerry Packer, who managed to have a wall removed and the bar enlarged to a more usable size.
The pub also has an unsealed airstrip out the back, allowing visitors to fly in, park their aircraft, enjoy a meal and a beverage before flying out.
Vitally, the airstrip also allowed the pub to serve as a stopping point for the Flying Doctor Service’s monthly medical and dental clinics.
The hotel was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in October 1992.
The current owner Mr Turner, who operates the pub with his wife Marg, and daughter Sarah, purchased the lease of the pub in 2012, before acquiring it freehold in 2016.
Mr Turner said he loves running the pub and the serenity of the area.
“There is nothing here, there is a pub, a town hall, and a public dunny,” Mr Turner said.
“There are no permanent people here apart from us.
“It’s a lifestyle more than anything else.”
Mr Turner added that he embraces the barrenness of the area.
“During the dry season, the place looks pretty bloody miserable, it looks barren,” he said.
“There is not a picture.
“I like the country and I think the place is a different colour and everything is different every day, it is beautiful.”
The Noccundra Hotel serves as a popular destination for travellers heading to the Burke and Wills Dig Tree, Thargomindah, and Cameron Corner.
The Sunset Tavern, Karumba
Home to arguably Queensland’s most scenic beer garden, the Sunset Tavern is the spot to have a beer while taking in stunning views of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Situated on the foreshore of the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Norman River, the Karumba venue is well positioned to take in the spectacular sunset views on offer.
Notably, it is the only licensed venue in the region accessible by road to witness the sun setting over the Gulf.
To locals, the Sunset Tavern serves as a community meeting point and place for celebrations.
In 2023, the pub was acquired by hotel and property group Waymark Hotels.
Waymark Hotels Area Manager Tom Mitchell described the Sunset Tavern as “incredible”.
“It is an incredible spot,” he said.
“The sunsets are great, but the show gets spectacular once the sun goes down over the water, that’s when it really lights up and it’s different every day.”
Aside from the view, Mr Mitchell said the pub offers a great experience for patrons.
“You have the locals there, they are salt of the earth type people, then you have the camaraderie, good banter, and don’t get me started on the fresh seafood,” he said.
“The prawns, the mud crabs, it’s all local.”
Isa Hotel, Mount Isa
Beers have been poured at the Isa Hotel for close to 100 years, except for when the pub ran dry and the hotel was impacted by a beer strike.
Established in 1926 on the corner of Miles and Marian St, the Isa Hotel quickly became the watering hole of choice for many living and working in the mining town.
The pub played a key role in Mount Isa holding the record for the highest consumption of beer amongst similar towns throughout the Commonwealth.
The thirsty patrons led to a roaring trade, with the venue running out of beer on several occasions.
Price of beer became an issue in Mount Isa in 1929, with a group called the Beer Strike Committee demanding a 25 per cent cut in the price of drinks, as well as a boycott of the two hotels in town, the Argent Hotel and the Isa Hotel.
The boycott lasted just over six months, ending with the introduction of the “tallies” to the town in 1930.
During its history, the success of the pub has been dependent on the nearby mines, which are among the most productive in the world for copper, zinc, lead, and silver.
In 2018, the Isa Hotel was acquired by hotel and property group Waymark Hotels.
Waymark Hotels Area Manager Tom Mitchell said the Isa Hotel has a storeyed history.
“It is one of those places where if the walls could talk, there would be some stories to tell,” Mr Mitchell said.
“The beer strike was huge, when the price of beer went up, they all boycotted and refused to go to the pub.
“Eventually, it was all resolved, and they ended up going back to the pub.
“The mining operation has been key to the success of the pub, the Mount Isa Mines is on the doorstep of the town, you can see it from the pub.
“The pub has got everything, it’s a big pub, it’s an exceptional place to go for a steak, it’s a hub of Mt Isa, and everyone will go there at some stage.”
Middleton Hotel
One of the most isolated pubs in Queensland and Australia, the iconic Middleton Hotel is worth a visit.
Over 1500km away from Brisbane and about halfway between Winton and Boulia on the Kennedy Development Road, you will find the Middleton Hotel.
Established in 1876, the hotel was built at a creek crossing as a Cobb and Co changing station until the service ended in 1915.
The hotel is all that remains of Middleton and in the present day the pub serves as a stopping point for outback travellers.
The remoteness of the venue has created some problems, with recent social media posts highlighting the theft of toilet paper by visitors, a commodity difficult to find at the best of times, especially during global health pandemics and natural disasters.
It has also been suggested that a few cheeky punters have also made off with glasses from the venue.
The Purple Pub, Normanton
The Purple Pub is one of the top attractions in a Carpenteria town that is frequented by travellers.
Officially known as the National Hotel, the Purple Pub at Normanton was established in the early 1900s.
Originally decorated in a light mauve in 1968, the pub was painted several shades darker in 1975, before it was turned people in 1979.
The pub is one of the most photographed buildings in town and popular with tourists.
Royal Hotel Bedourie
On the edge of the Simpson Desert, the Royal Hotel Bedourie is the place to go for an ice cold beer in a true outback bar atmosphere.
Constructed in 1886, the pub was built from adobe bricks and has been open ever since.
Inside the venue, visitors will be able to enjoy an ice cold beer, traditional pub feeds, as well as a free pool table and dart board.
Visitors are also invited to say G’day to the venue’s pets Including camels, cows, goats, and cats.
The current publican Jim Smith, has owned the venue since 1971.
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