Hinchinbrook Hotel: Beloved pub revived after Ingham flood disaster

The owner of Ingham’s most popular pub has bravely battled back from the devastating flood disaster that almost claimed his life.

Hinchinbrook Hotel is back behind the bar after surviving a horror health scare during the Ingham flood disaster. The beloved pub and Harvest Restaurant completed extensive renovations following the February floods on Friday and is backing firing on all cylinders to the delight of its loyal following of local customers and visitors to the Hinchinbrook region. Picture: Cameron Bates

The owners of Ingham’s most popular hotel and restaurant have bravely battled back from the deadly and devastating flood disaster that almost claimed one of their lives in a horror medical ordeal.

Popular publican Martin Smith said he was told by a doctor in Townsville that he should be dead after his appendix burst necessitating a self-funded medical evacuation by air in the aftermath of the floods that inundated the Hinchinbrook Hotel on Sunday, February 2.

Mr Smith said he began to feel unwell the following weekend ripping out the flood-damaged fittings of the hotel, saying he first visited Ingham Hospital on Sunday, February 9.

“On Tuesday, I went to see my doctor, Dr (Stewart) Jackson and he just went, ‘mate, your appendix has to come out’.”

The flood-struck Hinchinbrook Hotel, top right, on Lannercost St during the peak of the Ingham flood disaster in early February. The popular pub and restaurant received about 60mm throughout, which was enough to cause extensive damage that took until Friday to complete renovations. Picture: Cameron Bates

Marty said that because the flood-battered Bruce Highway was still severed at Ollera Creek, he had to charter his own helicopter flight to Rollingstone where he was met by a friend and rushed by road to Mater Hospital.

He said that in a strange coincidence given the seriousness of what was transpiring, he had gone to school for 12 years with pilot Josh of Liddles Air Service and nurse Nicole of Hinchinbrook Health Care in Ingham, joking that it was “like a school reunion”.

“I walked into Mater at 1pm and I was in surgery at 3pm,” he said.

“The doctor’s words to me the next day were that ‘your appendix was dead when I got to it, I don’t understand (how you are alive), so yeah, it’s been a bit of a wake-up call.”

The Hinchinbrook Hotel’s Harvest Restaurant serving up a moist chicken scaloppini featuring grilled chicken breast with pan-fried prosciutto in a rich, creamy sauce and served with broccoli and mashed potatoes. Picture: Cameron Bates

Partner Maddy Smith, who together with Marty ran the Sun Hotel in Townsville for 14 years, said that to make matters even worse, the dire medical situation occurred on the same day the ‘Brook reopened its bar, to the delight of thirsty local patrons.

“He decided to do this on the day we reopened,” she said, “so I couldn’t even go there with him, I had to stay open and run this”.

The Hinchinbrook Hotel’s Harvest Restaurant serving up a generous 300g sirloin steak sourced locally from Chiesa & Sons Butchery in Ingham and cooked in a slightly sweet red-wine marinade. All of the juicy steaks on the ‘From the Grill’ menu are cooked to the requirements of the customers and are served with beer-battered chips, salad or vegetables and a choice of 11 different homemade sauces. Picture: Cameron Bates

Again proving the resilience of North Queenslanders, Mr Smith was only in hospital for three days before he was discharged.

“When I went and picked him up, we immediately went carpet shopping,” Mrs Smith laughed.

Page one of the Hinchinbrook Hotel’s extensive and famed menu that includes a range of international favourites, and steaks, toppers, sides and sauces. In addition to weekly specials, The Harvest Restaurant also offers Seniors’ Specials and a Kids’ Menu. Picture: Supplied

Page two of the Hinchinbrook Hotel’s extensive menu, including it’s popular and affordable weekly specials, including chicken parmis, and rump and ribs meal deals. Picture: Supplied

The couple said the Hinchinbrook community had rallied around the business, including a rush of about 30 diners when Harvest Restaurant finally completed its refurbishment on Friday.

“The community has been unbelievable, amazing, they’ve supported us the entire way through the rebuild … there were people driving in from Forrest Beach just to grab a mop,” he said.

“I just think they couldn’t wait to get back into a pub, they just wanted to feel home again, to get back to normality.”

The Hinchinbrook Hotel’s Harvest Restaurant serving up a perfectly cooked, moist pork cutlet served with a delightful honey-mustard sauce, tasty sweet potato puree and crisp vegetables. Picture: Cameron Bates

The couple, who acquired the pub just days before the Covid disaster struck in 2020, said they had been planning to introduce a revamped menu prior to the disaster but those plans had been put on hold during the extensive renovations to the restaurant, front bar, gaming room and accommodation for in excess of 20 staff.

That is good news, however, for the ‘Brook’s faithful customers and visitors from throughout the region who rate the pub and food, including the range of affordable weekly specials, the best in North Queensland, as voted for by readers of the Townsville Bulletin.

Originally published as Hinchinbrook Hotel: Beloved pub revived after Ingham flood disaster