Australia’s best bush pub: McEvoy Tavern in Eldorado is Victoria’s smallest pub

North-east Victorians with a big thirst know the best place to quench it — at the state’s smallest pub near Wangaratta. Vote for your favourite country pub so we can share their story.

McEvoy Tavern manager Kelly Bradley and daughter Chloe have battled against density limits in their uniquely small establishment. Picture: Zoe Phillips.

Ask Kelly Bradley about the reputation of Victoria’s most diminutive drinking establishment and she’ll tell you it’s no small beer.

“A lot of people want to say they’ve been to smallest bar in Victoria. They’re always keen to get a photo — it’s a big deal for visitors,” the Eldorado pub owner said.

“The bar is about one and a half metres long. Pretty short compared to most pubs.”

Located 20 minutes drive from Wangaratta, McEvoy Tavern has held the tiny title for three decades after the pub was sectioned off from the general store.

Ms Bradley has operated the hotel for the past two years with daughter Chloe working alongside mum in the legendary north-east Victorian establishment.

It hasn’t been all beer and skittles for the duo with coronavirus restrictions leaving the pub in lockdown limbo since the first closure rules were enforced in March 2020.

“It’s been confusing and frustrating; not just for us but anyone who runs a pub,” Ms Bradley said.

“Now that we’re back open, we generally just have locals in the pub because there’s only enough space for them at the moment with the density limits.

“The regulars have been great. Hopefully we can have more visitors in the summer but at the moment we’re just catering mainly for locals.”

While McEvoy Tavern is the Victorian titleholder, the honour of being Australia’s smallest pub is claimed by the Oasis Roadhouse — three hours west of Townsville in a remote part of north-central Queensland.

Naturally, with our wide open plains, Australia can’t compete with the British and the Irish for the prestige of claiming the world’s smallest pub.

The aptly-named Nutshell in Bury St Edmunds, two hours north-east of London, has been cited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest pub worldwide on several occasions.

At the other end of the scale, Mildura Working Mens Club used to hold the title of world’s longest bar until renovations in 1996 wiped it from the pages of global recognition.

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