Quirky locals, country atmosphere, cold beers: Six pubs you can buy now for less than a Brisbane home

Ever wanted to be the ‘heart of the community’ or wanted to have the ultimate treechange? Everyone has dreamt of owning their own pub and now it's one step closer to a possibility with several southwest drinking establishments going under the hammer for record low prices cheaper than a Brisbane home.

Everyone has dreamt of owning their own pub and now it's one step closer to a possibility with several southwest drinking establishments going under the hammer for record low prices.

PropTrack data recently revealed there was a high possibility of the median value of properties soaring by 2028, if property market trends continue as they have for the previous five years.

Tourism Brokers agent Tony Johnson has sold properties across southwest Queensland and said buying a country pub was the “ultimate treechange”.

Country pubs have long been a staple of their respective communities, and are often the heart of them (Photo: File)

“It’s obviously not just sitting around drinking beers with your mates, there’s a bit of work and long hours, but if you want to become part of a community and get out of the rat race, it’s a perfect opportunity,” he said.

“We’re still seeing people from Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney wanting to get out of the rat race, but from our perspective it seems a bit glorified to own a pub, particularly as a bloke, they’re a lot cheaper than many properties in Brisbane but they might not earn as much as a working couple in the city.”

Mr Johnson said the ideal buyer was a “certain type of person or couple that just want to earn enough to be comfortable, enjoy a slower paced life, deal with genuine country people and be the heart of the community”.

With the median house price in Brisbane listed as $987,500 here are some pubs you can snag for less than $600,000, filled with country charm, down to earth vibes, wild characters and eternal yarns and of course, ice cold beers.

Here’s some of the historic venues which are seeking new publicans:

Club Hotel Clifton – Clifton – $550,000

The Club Hotel Clifton has been listed for sale through SGW Hotel Brokers, featuring a price tag of $550,000.

Founded in 1889, the Club Hotel 45.6km south of Toowoomba is indeed a historical site. If walls could talk, imagine the stories this beauty could tell.

The 154-year-old hotel has all the charm and traditional furnishings of a licensed venue, alongside four refurbished accommodation offerings and four new gaming machines, which can be a prime source of revenue.

The property has huge potential besides being a pub, with agent Scott Williams saying “you could turn into a trendy eatery or bakery” as Clifton is missing a certain “something else”

“It’s a beautiful dining room, even the toilets are nice — if this pub was in the city, you’d be fighting people off with sticks -it needs someone to market it the right way and get people back there.”

FULL STORY

Bowenville Hotel, Bowenville – $550,000

The Bowenville Hotel, south of Dalby, is up for sale

Located south of Dalby, the Bowenville hotel has been noted as a popular and warm country pub just off the highway.

This charming country establishment is visited by a “good client base surrounded by farms and feedlots,” its listing said.

The whimsical slice of Australiana has many opportunities, such as a spacious outdoor area for entertaining, land available for caravans and 4WDs, a large industrial kitchen and modern dining area perfect for private functions.

Lion National Real Estate agent Kevin Hayden said the fully renovated property was so full of promise and profit, if he could, he would “go to the bank for a loan and snatch it up himself”.

Mr Hayden said punters come from Dalby “by the busload” on Friday nights for the great vibes, music, entertainment and food, with the ideal buyer being anyone from the region, or even metropolitan areas.

“The property might be awesome for a couple say in their 30s or 40s who want a treechange, there’s so much potential with nothing around you for 30km, and feedlots and farms surrounding the pub,” he said.

O’Mahony’s Hotel, Warwick – Offers to purchase

O'Mahony's Hotel, known affectionately by a play on its former name, The Nash.

At 132-years-old, O’Mahony’s Hotel – formerly the National Hotel - on Warwick’s Grafton St has long been an icon of night-life and culture in the Rose City.

Longstanding manager Joan Wallace had owned and operated the historic venue for the past two decades, and said she “fell in love with the charm of the building”.

“I’d love to see someone take it on and continue to do more with it. I’m at retirement age now, so my plan is to just wind down slowly and see where life takes me,” she said in June.

The property was listed for auction on July 19 through IThink Property agents, but sadly offers didn’t meet the desired reserve and the historical beauty went back on the market, now listed at ‘offers to purchase’.

FULL STORY

Stockyard Hotel, Warwick – $649,000

Recently renovated, Warwick's Stockyard Tavern hosts outstanding potential for a keen investor at a pleasantly priced $649k. Photo: Supplied

The Stockyard Tavern has long been a Rose City institution, located on the east side of town.

Operating only five days a week, Wednesday to Sunday, the infamous pub underwent a complete facelift just two years ago boasting an idyllic outdoor area.

Covering an impressive more than 2000sq m, the property also hosts a one-bedroom dwelling adjacent to the tavern.

Off Market Group sales executive Chris Novak said the Stockyard is still on the market and receiving a lot of interest, with inspections of the property with perspective buyers to come in the following weeks.

The idyllic outdoor area of Warwick's Stockyard Tavern, listed at a phenomenal price. Photo: Supplied

The Oasis Hotel, Yelarbon – $965,000

The interior of the Oasis Hotel at Yelarbon is a whimsical tribute to Australiana of the past (Photo: supplied)

Located between the idyllic havens of Goondiwindi and Inglewood, the Oasis Hotel at Yelarbon is a roadside sanctuary for locals and travellers alike.

It’s no mirage, Tourism Brokers agent Tony Johnson said the ideal new owner would turn the pub into a destination and “give a reason for people to come to the pub”.

“You can’t just sit back and expect people to come, you need to be quirky, nostalgic, out of left field, and that’s what we’ve seen with people who have moved and bought pubs in place like Allora or Leyburn, people underestimate the power of word of mouth,” Mr Johnson said.

“The town has about 400 people and it’s a wealthy farming area, it’s a small town so you’ve got to want to become part of the community- because the pub is the heart of the community.

“If you’re looking for somewhere to make a treechange, and you want to become a part of the community that works together, there might be something to you in Yelarbon.

“These smaller places are the best opportunity to provide good food, or make it a destination, and giving people to come out from metropolitan areas on a day trip a reason to visit.”

Crown Hotel, Maryvale – offers over $900,000

The boutique and charming Crown Hotel in Maryvale awaits a new owner to push it to its full potential. Photo: Supplied.

Among the many historical beauties of the Southern Downs region sits the 110-year-old Crown Hotel in Maryvale, a mere 30.6km northeast of Warwick.

Not only operating as a commercial pub, the upstairs area hosts boutique accommodation as well as a separate owner’s residence.

SGW Hotel Broker’s Scott Williams said the charming beauty has attracted enormous interest within the past two months.

“We’ve had quite a lot of inquiries, genuine ones as well,” he said.

“From July 3 to (present) we’ve received 24 email inquiries, and the Real Commercial listing has seen 8000 views.”

With a newly refurbished commercial kitchen, the Crown has much to offer to keen investors and currently operates five days a week, Wednesday to Sunday.

Mr Williams said given the properties outstanding potential, the historic institution is now being marketed as an Airbnb accommodation hotspot.

Inside the historic Crown Hotel in Maryvale. Photo: Supplied.

Originally published as Quirky locals, country atmosphere, cold beers: Six pubs you can buy now for less than a Brisbane home