St Peter’s Town and Country Hotel - made famous by Slim Dusty ‘beer with Duncan’ - to close

An inner-city Sydney pub made famous across Australia after Slim Dusty sang about it has made a shock announcement — and NSW’s music minister has decried the loss of another live venue.

An iconic Sydney pub made famous by Slim Dusty singing “I’d love to have a beer with Duncan” has suddenly shut - a victim of whinging neighbours, high rents and a landlord dispute.

The St Peter’s Town and Country Hotel closed its doors earlier this week despite having survived WestConnex roadworks, flooding, Covid lockdowns and licence issues.

It was immortalised after the huge hit song “Duncan” came out in 1980, becoming a number one bestseller and sitting on the charts for 26 weeks with the lyrics: “We drink at the Town and Country, where the atmosphere is great…cause Duncans me mate”.

But on Tuesday night the management of the pub posted on social media their doors had been “locked suddenly and abruptly”.

“We’ve made many attempts to work harmoniously and reasonably with our landlord on building repairs, continuous complaints from neighbours and also our rent, resulting in an unsuccessful mediation,” the managers said.

Singer Slim Dusty and Duncan Urquart outside the famous St Peters Town and Country Hotel which was featured in his famous song “Duncan”.

“We are devastated at this outcome and we’d like to extend our thanks to you for sticking by us for the last six years.

“We’ve overcome many challenges including license issues, WestConnex roadworks, our cellar flooding and of course, Covid.

“We worked our way through it all and we would’ve loved to continue to bring life to the Inner West, however we are now unable to do so.”

The Town and Country Hotel in St Peters in 2004.

Australian singer Slim Dusty at the Town and Country Hotel with friend Duncan Urquart - who the song was named after.

Night-time Economy and Music Minister John Graham said NSW had lost half its live music venues over a decade and did not want to lose any more.

“Slim Dusty would be appalled,” he said.

“Live music is one of the reasons the atmosphere has been great at the Town & Country over years and decades.

“Any decision on its future rests with the owners, but the NSW Government are here to help ensure live acts continue to play there.”

The legendary 1881 pub featured in the official video for the Slim Dusty song, which came about after composer and songwriter Pat Alexander - a former insurance salesman, tried to get a local factory owner

Duncan Urquhart to take out a policy.

The two met several times at the pub before it dawned on Mr Alexander that Duncan just enjoyed a drink and talking - and was not going to buy the policy.

It became Slim Dusty’s second biggest hit, after Pub with No Beer.

‘‘It was a novelty song but it seemed to grip the nation,’’ Mr Alexander later recalled.

Patrons were shocked and saddened on Tuesday, especially at the loss of another live music venue in Sydney.

“A very sad moment for the live music scene in Sydney over the years,” a patron commented.

Some called on Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne to intervene to help.