Carinda Pub, famous for David Bowie music video, destroyed in freak storm

A tiny Australian pub, famous for being featured in a David Bowie music video, has been destroyed during wild storms.

The damage done to a tiny pub in Carinda and how it appeared in the David Bowie video.

A tiny Australian pub, famous for being featured in a David Bowie music video, has been destroyed during wild storms.

The far west NSW town of Carinda lost its pub, pizza shop and general store on Sunday, after huge storms smashed the area, ripping roofs of buildings and cutting off the town’s power.

At least nine homes were destroyed and another four commercial buildings were damaged in the storm, which experienced 150km/h winds.

Crews were working to restore power by Tuesday afternoon.

The roof has been blown off the Carinda Hotel, a pub near Walgett in western NSW made famous by the David Bowie Song "Let's Dance. " Picture: SES

The town, which has fewer than 100 residents, was made famous after rock legend David Bowie filmed his music video “Let’s Dance” in 1983 inside the pub.

More than 40 NSW SES storm experts are working alongside Fire and Rescue crews and local volunteers to inspect and secure the damaged properties.

It comes as Barwon MP Roy Butler has written to Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, for “urgent consideration” of a natural disaster declaration in the area.

The roof has been blown off the Carinda Hotel, a pub near Walgett in western NSW made famous by the David Bowie song Let's Dance. Picture: SES

How it the pub appeared in the video. Picture YouTube

David Bowie in his video for Let's Dance. Picture YouTube

Inside the pub from the video.

NSW SES incident controller, Chief Superintendent Brigid Rice said the teams had now completed all assessments.

“There has been considerable impact to nine homes and four commercial buildings, which are either destroyed or uninhabitable,” Chief Superintendent Rice said.

“The focus today was making those properties safe by removing hazardous materials and securing lost roofing.

“Crews on scene have been working through roof damage, debris and fallen trees. Asbestos was also a concern given the age of some of the buildings.

Chief Superintendent Rice said despite the damage in the area, the community morale had been high.

Damage at one of the homes. Picture: SES

“We held a community meeting this morning, and spirits are pretty good, the residents are all supporting each other through the cleanup and were grateful for the SES and emergency partner’s assistance.

“The NSW SES will be undertaking further welfare checks with community members in outlying areas as well.”

The NSW SES has also been working with Essential Energy, and the Walgett Shire Emergency Operations Centre, to ensure essential services are restored as soon as possible. In the meantime, some services have been maintained using generators.

Originally published as Carinda Pub, famous for David Bowie music video, destroyed in freak storm