Farview Tavern, Eungella farm reveal tourism, accommodation expansions

A country pub just north of Mackay is set for a $2m transformation, adding new campsites and cabins to attract tourists, while a Eungella farmer plans to host visitors in new cabins built on his land. SEE THE PLANS.

The Farview Tavern is under new ownership and looking to expand, renovating the venue and transforming the vacant lot behind it into a caravan park.

New campsites and accommodation is coming to the region as the new owners of a country pub gear up for a $2m makeover.

The Farview Tavern is planning to build three one-bedroom cabins, 15 caravan sites and five drive-in, drive-out RV plots at the vacant lot behind their location at 22 Chidlow St, Farleigh.

The new owner of the Farview Tavern Christopher Frier said he and his family bought the business at the end of 2024.

“We’re local to the region and identified it was once one of the great highlights of Mackay and had a lot of potential,” Mr Frier said.

Mr Frier also runs the Paget based building company WHF Constructions and owns the Barracrab Caravan Park in Clairview.

The Farview Tavern is under new ownership and looking to expand, renovating the venue and transforming the vacant lot behind it into a caravan park.

Now he’s hoping to reinvent the Farview Tavern, investing an estimated $2m to make the pub “more modern” through renovation, potentially adding kids playgrounds, and other outdoor entertainment on top of the caravan park.

The vacant lot will now hold 23 sites altogether, with 15 allocated to caravans, 5 for RVs and three spaces holding one-bedroom cabins.

Documents submitted to council reveal the 23 site development will transform the grassy area into a tourist park to provide holiday accommodation for travellers visiting the region.

“There’s accommodation shortages throughout the region,” Mr Frier said.

“It makes sense … we’ve got a large function space there with the tavern that people can have a weekend, party gathering there and don’t have to worry about driving transportation back.”

A bbq area, shower block and other outdoor amenities will be provided to guests at the caravan park.

Mr Frier’s application, lodged by Mackay town planners Jewell Planning Consultants, said the tourist park will come with showers, toilets, camp kitchens, barbecues and provide powered sites.

“I think the demand is quite high and I think it’d be a really good thing to bring profit to the business at the Farview,” Mr Frier said.

The 1.62ha site will be accessible by a proposed 6m access road from Chidlow St and will adjoin car parks at the rear of the tavern.

This image from the internet was submitted to council as inspiration for what the one-bedroom cabins might look like.

A further seven new car parks are proposed, including three dedicated spots for visitors staying at the cabins and four for visitors and campground staff.

The five drive-in, drive-out plots will not provide sewerage services and the development is expected to generate about 45 trips per day to the Bruce Highway, which Jewell Planning Consultants consider to be of negligible impact.

Mr Frier estimates construction will support 15 full-time jobs and, upon completion, the expanded pub and caravan park will grow the team by four new staff members.

Three two-bedroom cabins are coming to a property near Eungella to provide new accommodation for nature-based tourism.

A Eungella farm is also diversifying their business by introducing three cabins to give potential visitors a “quiet, rural, experience located within the picturesque Pioneer Valley”.

Logan Norman, owner of 126 Diggings Road, Eungella lodged an application with Mackay Regional Council to build three cabins on their 98.9ha farm.

Currently a working cattle farm with a residential house, the cabins will be delivered as accommodation for nature-based tourism in the area.

Documents submitted by Jewell Planning Consultants on behalf of Mr Norman reveal the cabins will be relocatable and delivered in three stages.

Three two-bedroom cabins are coming to a property near Eungella to provide new accommodation for nature based tourism.

Each will have two-bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchenette, be 39sqm in size and accessible by the farms rural access driveway and walking tracks.

The accommodation aims to cater to the local travel and tourism market and will allow visitors to enjoy the scenic beauty of the area and the surrounding Eungella National Park.

The cabins are located in an elevated area and no trees will be cut during construction and the development will provide two 30,000l tanks and septic systems to support the cabins.

Mr Norman also proposes to provide off-grid electricity to the cabins via a solar and battery system.

The site will have ample space for guest parking and the development is not expected to have any impact on nearby remnant vegetation.