Too soon to farewell town's historic hotel

Great season of grey nomads could be start of revival

HOPING FOR REPRIEVE: Mitchell Hotel manager Mark Young and Ooline Restaurant manager Sue Alm are closing the hotel's doors next week unless a buyer comes forward. Picture: Molly Hancock

AFTER 100 years, the Mitchell Hotel will close its doors next week, with no buyers yet to step forward to preserve this historic country icon.

Having been in receivership for the past year, it will close its doors next Friday, December 14.

Recognised as a crucial part of the town, Mark Young of Rogers-Reidy receivers said he hoped the pub found a buyer, for the sake of the locals and the town's tourism industry.

"The town needs it. Not only is it part of the fabric of the town, but it's a great economic benefit of the town.”

The pub is a halfway point for grey nomads making their way from Brisbane to Longreach and the outback, stopping into the hotel for a good night's sleep and an even better feed.

This past season, MrYoung said the pub had record numbers of grey nomads pass through.

"We had a new Italian chef and French fiancee in the kitchen. We put specials on nightly and the figures went through the roof.

"All the way through the hotel it was full.”

Mr Young said country towns needed to maintain these hotels to hold onto their heritage and sense of community.

"Country towns are already losing so much. Banks and facilities are closing, businesses are boarding up, and this pub is a facility, it's the fabric of the town and it means so much to this community. We don't want to lose it too.

" I just hope someone can save it.”

Mr Young said if no one came forward, "the pub will get boarded up, it will lose its certifications and then it's too expensive to bring back, so it will just sit there”.

All inquiries are welcome to Mark Young at: barrier [e-mail].

Originally published as Too soon to farewell town's historic hotel