Donna and Jamie Murphy take over iconic Pinnacle Pub in Pioneer Valley

An iconic Qld pub famous for pies made with a fiercely-guarded secret recipe and giant crumbed steaks has new owners, who say they’re proud to continue the ‘slice of history’ albeit with a twist.

Gracie, Donna, Jamie and Hunter Murphy new owners of Pinnacle Pub. Saturday 3 June 2023 Picture: Michaela Harlow

A new chapter has dawned on an iconic Queensland pub famous for its pies made with a secret recipe and crumbed steaks the size of newborn babies.

Mount Gambier couple Donna and Jamie Murphy, alongside Gracie and Hunter, say they’re excited to take the helm of the beloved Pinnacle Family Hotel, about 40 minutes’ drive west of Mackay in the Pioneer Valley.

They said the famous pie was the first thing they ate when visiting

“We came over (in January) to have a look at the pub and, of course, we had to try the famous pie,” Mr Murphy said, adding the memory was made more special now they were the proud custodians of a pub that was both a “slice of history” and a “landmark”.

The Pinnacle Pub attracts a following with its famous Pinnacle Pies.

Mrs Murphy said they had not fully understood “the significance” of the pub at first, particularly its long-cherished secret pie recipe.

“We feel privileged to own that recipe,” she said.

“It just astounds me when people eat it and say, that was amazing, (because) we actually thought the same thing.”

The famous Pinnacle pub pies.

Having only just recently uprooted their lives in moving 26 hours’ drive across the country, the Murphy children are already helping out at the family enterprise.

Gracie has taken over some bookkeeping responsibilities and Hunter is learning what he can before starting at Mirani State High School.

The sheer scale of the “tiny little pub”’s popularity has also been a happy surprise to the family, as they welcome tourists from across the world.

Donna and Jamie Murphy new owners of Pinnacle Pub. Saturday 3 June 2023 Picture: Michaela Harlow

“Lots of Europeans, Americans who want to try Aussie beer … it’s astounding the countries they’re all from,” Mrs Murphy said.

But it was the warm welcome from Pioneer Valley residents that inspired the new publicans to “go 110 per cent” to support their community.

For Jamie, who grew up in a rural town, moving from South Australia’s second biggest city and back to the country has been wonderful.

Sarah Atkins shared this photo of her baby daughter Jorja, alongside the epic crumbed steak at the Pinnacle Pub.

“We’ve kept all the same employees (and) they’re fantastic,” Jamie said.

“We’re planning to open up the big dining room as a function room (for) wedding receptions, family parties.

“We want the locals to know we want to create a place for them to come, relax, and have a chat.”

Former owners Andrew and Karen Guthrie said they are thrilled to be handing the keys to people they think are “so down to earth” and “will fit in so well here”.

“You can sit down and have a yack with (the Murphys),” Mrs Guthrie said.

Andrew, Karen and John Guthrie with the 2018 Triple M best pub award. Picture: Contributed

“They can relate to the people in the valley, the farming and the mining and the cattle.

“It’s nice to hand the reins over to people we think will do an amazing job.”

The Guthries decided to pass on the beloved pub to spend more time with their six children and begin to give back to the Pioneer Valley community they said had given them so much.

Mr Guthrie said he would miss making Pinnacle’s famous pies, but was adamant that the “Mackay tourist icon” would remain exactly where they are.

“They originated at the Pinnacle Pub and they stay at the Pinnacle Pub,” he said.