Bar Wunder owners to face court as Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation shutter business

After its two owners were arrested and charged for repeated breaches of public health orders, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation has confirmed Bar Wunder can reopen later this month. There’s just one catch.

A business that has repeatedly run foul of state government public health orders can reopen later this month, but there’s just one catch - they’ll need to abide by the very laws they’ve publicly decried.

Actions of the owners of Bar Wunder have been playing out in Toowoomba ever since the Queensland Government first introduced its mandate restrictions in mid-December, dividing opinions and fuelling discord.

After repeated warnings and at least one infringement notice, owners Mark McElligot, 56, and Fiona Davis, 50, of CBD venue Bar Wunder were arrested by police.

The incident unfolded on Saturday night when the owners held a private function and failed to comply with the mandate laws.

Livestreaming the event on their business Facebook page, the post said “whoever picks the closest time of when (police) visit us at home tonight and fine us or arrest us” would win a Bar Wunder shirt.

Taking it one step further, the pair also filmed their arrest, which took place at their home about 12.45am on Sunday.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman said at the start of this month the owners had been issued with an official direction to close the premises until January 31 and multiple breaches of these directions had since occurred.

“On January 15 at 2.10pm, the licensed premises was allegedly opened with approximately 50 to 60 patrons inside consuming alcohol for a number of hours … police attended the address twice and were blocked by a large crowd who prevented entry to the premises,” the spokeswoman said.

“The overwhelming majority of the Toowoomba community has been very compliant with public health directions, and we urge members of the public to continue to work with us in the interests of keeping our community safe.”

Mr McElligot was charged with one count of failure to comply with a Covid-19 direction and will appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on January 25.

A spokesman from Queensland Police confirmed he is also facing an additional charge in relation to a separate matter, from last month.

Ms Davis was charged with two counts of the same offence and will appear in court on March 16.

An OLGR spokesman confirmed they had not not taken further action against Bar Wunder since January 2, 2022.

On that date OLGR issued the business with a direction, under the Public Health Act 2005, to the close until January 31 2022 or “until the business complies with the Chief Health Officer’s public health direction”.

“Monitoring and enforcing compliance with Chief Health Officer directions is a multi-agency effort, with the Queensland Police Service playing a key ongoing role in relation to Bar Wunder,” the spokesman said.

Originally published as Bar Wunder owners to face court as Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation shutter business