Joe’s Waterhole pub owner sells off pokies ahead of Matso’s revamp

Pokies have been ripped out of an iconic hinterland pub ahead of its transformation into a family-friendly, flagship Matso’s brewery.

Joe's Waterhole is undergoing a massive revamp to become a Matso's brewery and the new owner has also sold off the pub’s pokies licences. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The pokies have left the building at a popular and longstanding Sunshine Coast pub as builders move in to give it a major overhaul.

Joe’s Waterhole in Eumundi was bought by West Australian company Good Drinks Australia for $5.3m in September 2021 with the intention of building a brewery for its popular Matso’s ginger beer brand.

Builders are weeks away from starting work on the plan that was submitted to the Sunshine Coast Council in September 2022.

Venue manager Shayne Daniel said the bistro, pokies area and bottle shop would be redeveloped into a Matso’s brewery but the front bar would have few changes.

The bottle shop would move “up the street” into another building, he said.

James Penny, who works in hospitality projects and venue manager Shayne Daniel in front of Joe’s Waterhole which is undergoing a massive revamp to become a Matso's brewery. Pictured, Photo:Patrick Woods.

Matso’s, with its iconic Broome pub, is best known for its chilli and mango beers and ginger beer.

“The front bar is still open and we’re not going to do to much to the front bar, we’ll retain the heritage look and feel,” Mr Daniel said.

Many pub patrons have enjoyed a beer at the front bar of Joe’s Waterhole in Eumundi like Kev Curran, of Eumundi with Rob Christie and Bert Brady, both of Cooroy, pictured in 2015. Picture: Patrick Woods

The venue manager said the pokies were moved off-site more than a week ago, when they ceased operation on May 21.

“There’s some of our regulars who are a bit upset, I guess, they like that area and that room because there was nothing like that in Eumundi so they’ll probably have to travel or go somewhere else for that sort thing,” Mr Daniel said.

He said the pub had operated 15 pokies and five licences were sold earlier in 2023 before the sale of the final 10.

Mr Daniel said the community feedback on the Matso’s plans was mostly positive.

Joe's Waterhole has sold its pokie licences ahead of a major revamp. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He said builders would start work in the next couple of weeks with the aim of an October opening of the new venue.

“There’s going to be great food and beverage offering, obviously the heroes are the Matso’s beers,” Mr Daniel said.

Plans were lodged with the Sunshine Coast Council for approval to build the Matso’s Sunshine Coast Brewery in Eumundi, in September 2022.

“It will be a great east coast flagship for the brand.”

He said the venue would also have a children’s playground.

“It’ll be a family-friendly venue,” Mr Daniel said.

The Memorial Av pub was established in 1891 and was originally named the Commercial Hotel.

It has also hosted music legends at gigs over the years including Wendy Matthews, Archie Roach, Ash Grunwald, Joe Camilleri and the Black Sorrows.

The Matso’s brewery will add to the ginger beer offerings already on the Sunshine Coast including those by Buderim Ginger and Diablo Ginger Beer.