How Federal Backpackers business owners bounced back to take on new venture

It was a heart-wrenching scene as the historic Federal Backpackers went up in flames. Now, 12 months on the business owners talk about their new project.

It was a shocking site when the Federal Backpackers building, once located opposite Hungry Tum and the train station in Bundaberg’s CBD, went up in flames.

The 1800s building was an iconic one, its unique height and shape overlooking our daily lives like a watcher from another era of the Rum City.

But with all good things coming to an end, that end came on the night of July 20, 2020, when a fire in the kitchen of the adjacent Spotted Dog Tavern spread, taking the grand old hotel with it.

Business owner Antoinette Grima, who leased the property, said she was left grateful to the community for all its support and care in the aftermath.

“We did have a lot,” she said.

It’s the connection to the community that inspired Ms Grima to stick with the industry, with a bit of a twist.

“In April we purchased the Tattersalls Hotel which also includes the Liquor Legends bottle shop,” she said.

The plan is to renovate accommodation at the Tatts, as it is often affectionately known, and run it as a pub as well as providing either backpacker or pub accommodation.

Built in the 1890s, the Tattersalls was also once a victim of a fire that took out its upper level, but it hasn’t stopped it being a community favourite in Walla Street.

Ms Grima said the Federal Backpackers had been one of the first to take on Pacific Island workers even before the fire, a process that can take a lot of effort to be approved.

In a pandemic where numbers of backpackers from Europe and Asia are dwindling, it proved to be a good move and one Ms Grima hopes to stick to as she looks to the future and ensuring a workforce to pick local produce.

“The farmers need it,” she said.

It’s new ground for Ms Grima who is now running a pub with an eatery, but she said she was excited by what was happening.

A new chef has taken on cooking in the kitchen and meals are available from Monday to Saturday for lunch and Monday to Friday for dinner.

Ms Grima said she would be happy to extend those hours if the demand was there.

Popular items are steak and steak sandwiches which are proving a crowd favourite.