Mary’s Pub fire: Community reflects on Commercial Hotel inferno three years on

The legacy of beloved publican Mary Barry lives on through the friendships and memories forged during her management, despite an inferno destroying the iconic building in 2018.

HAPPY DAYS LUV: Dalby commemorated the third anniversary of the burning down of the Commercial Hotel or 'Mary's Pub' in 2018. Picture: File

Just over three years ago Dalby lost one of its most iconic structures to a devastating fire, but the legacy of Mary Barry shines bright all these years later.

The Commercial Hotel, commonly known as “Mary’s Pub” after former publican Ms Barry, was destroyed in a blaze on August 22 2018, with the inferno leaving the structure beyond repair.

Dalby firefighter Lieutenant Peter Ehrich was one of the first responders on scene, and said the entire front of the building was “fully engulfed in flames”.

“We were still there until the mid morning the next day after it took two to three hours to get under control, and three hours to mop up,” Mr Ehrich said.

Police said they had no reason to believe the fire which destroyed Mary's Commercial Hotel was deliberately lit. Picture: File

“The fire was mostly contained from the outside on the street, while we had other firefighters on the roof of one of the neighbouring buildings, and a couple crews at the front and out the back.

“It was probably one of the bigger fires we’ve had in our town for quite some time.”

Miraculously, no one was seriously injured, but the loss of such an impressive building and legacy devastated the town.

Former employee of 26 years Danni Lee said she had worked with Mary since she was 18-years-old, up until 2013, when Ms Barry passed away at the age of 91.

“She was very people-oriented, and always used to put the customer first, and would go out of her way for everyone,” Ms Lee said.

Former publican Mary Barry in 2005. Picture: David Martinelli

“Mary just always used to make you feel welcome, because that’s the person she was.”

Ms Barry ran the iconic hotel for 58 years, with her infectious personality and classic motto “happy days luv” making her a town favourite.

Ms Lee said Dalby shut down to honour the determined business woman after her death in 2013, with a funeral procession taking Ms Barry past her pub one more time.

“Graham McCullough painted Mary a ‘happy days luv’ banner, and they hung it out the front of the hotel as she passed it for the final time,” she said.

The Commercial Hotel stood in Cunningham Street, Dalby, until it was destroyed a few years ago by fire.

“It was so lovely to see all the local owners shut their doors and come out the front to pay their respects.

“She was such a humble person who didn’t like to be recognised for the stuff she had done, and was happy to just work silently in the background.

“It didn’t matter if you were from high society, or a pickle farmer from out west, anybody and everybody was welcome at Mary’s, and once they came in, they always kept coming back.”

Despite the heartache of losing the hotel, Ms Lee said the friendships and memories of the popular establishment had continued over the years, with a special reunion planned at the Dalby Rugby Union Club in September for former employees.

Western Downs Regional Council took over the site several years ago, and approved plans in December 2020 to create a community hub in honour of the late publican.