Western Downs pub Commercial Hotel Tara sold to Sophie Bougoure

After 18 years helming the iconic Commercial Hotel Tara, Owen and Tracey Brauer have sold the pub to a sixth generation local looking to continue its traditions. Find out more.

Tara’s Sophie Bougoure has taken over the Commercial Hotel, Tara. Picture: Liam Kidston

Sixth generation Tara local and Western Downs councillor Sophie Bougoure has purchased the Commercial Hotel Tara, keeping the beloved tavern in local hands.

Faithfully run by publicans Tracey and Owen Brauer for almost two decades, the 111-year-old old pub has been a watering hole for generations of Tara residents.

When the Dalby Herald previously spoke with Tracey and Owen they said they wanted to ensure the pub stayed with locals who would continue to support community groups.

“It has been bought by three owners in partnership and one of them is a local, so it will stay within local hands,” Tracey said.

“It is very important to see it stay local we actually turned another sale down so these people could buy it because we know they will support charities, functions and sports team and continue on the traditions.”

As a Tara resident Ms Bougoure said she too wanted to see the pub stay local and continue to support the community as it had done for more than a century.

“I decided to purchase the hotel because it is the heart of our town, and it was important to all of us that it stayed locally owned,” she said.

“They are what keeps our community groups alive so I wanted to ensure it stayed local to be able to support our sports and community groups, so that was the driver for me making that decision.

“My family has been in the Western Downs for six generations and I’ve always had dreams of owning a pub and now it is a reality.”

Ms Bougoure said she was excited to be the new owner and was looking forward to preserving the venue’s history.

“It feels pretty good, it’s day 15 of being in here, so there is a lot to learn from rostering and staffing to ordering, it doesn't look like a huge job on the outside but when you’re in it’s a lot of work,” she said.

“Tracey and Owen have been so helpful to deal with, they have allowed me in to do training with them, they are there for support if I need it today and have literally taken me through every single stage of the takeover, you couldn't ask for better people to buy a business from.

“We will continue the sponsorship with all community groups that the hotel has sponsored over the years, the Tara Panthers, The Camel Races, The Tara Races, The Tara Fishing competition and more.

“Our intention is to ensure the history remains with the pub, we aren't going to make too many changes to the Commercial Hotel, but we are going to preserve the history and put some more history of our town into the pub.”

Owen and Tracey Brauer. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Ms Bougoure said she would be looking at holding an event to celebrate the new ownership coinciding with the pub’s birthday.

“We will be holding a little event for the new ownership, the date is yet to be determined, it may very well coincide with the pub’s 112th birthday,” she said.

“Tracey and Owen used to have the birthday in November which was the month where they purchased the pub so this year we will hold it on the same anniversary.”

Originally published as Western Downs pub Commercial Hotel Tara sold to Sophie Bougoure