Aussie bush pubs.
Had a great night at the Royal
At Bedourie. Just one other couple and the Irish backpacker behind the bar. The place has stood the test of time not having burnt down ever. It was like stepping back in time.
I’m sure some have been to the Birdsville pub before. Iconic but a victim of its popularity. Although now the Big Red Bash has been canned it might be not quite so packed. Classic sitting there having a beer watching a plane land 50 metres across the road at the airstrip and the pilot walking in for a cold one.
The Blue Healer another classic at Kynuna on the way from Winton to Cloncurry. Only ever stopped in for a beer.
Betoota Hotel. First time past this Betoota was a ghost town. This time people in the cattle game near Durant had purchased the old dump and were nearing completion of renovations. They weren’t selling beer yet but they’d give you a free stubby for a $5 donation. Now it’s going gangbusters with plenty of caravanners staying every night filling up the place.
McKinley hotel aka Walkabout Creek Hotel. The pub has been moved from the town to the highway as a tourist attraction. Worth a stop. The original bar from Croc Dundee is in the back as it was in the movie.
The North Gregory at Winton. Burnt down a few times. First public performance of Waltzing Matilda happened here. Lyndon B. Johnson stayed here in WW2 when his plane had to land in the Outback. Beginnings of QANTAS were planned here. Was staying here watching the JBay pro when Mick Fanning punched that poor shark.
The old Daly Waters Pub. No trip to the Territory is complete without a stop here. Like most outback pubs paraphernalia adorns every wall and ceiling. Definitely worth staying the night.
Nice work there Seeds. Some dusty miles in that lot
Have stopped at the Daley Waters pub a few times, it is an interesting place.
Would add the Barrow Creek Hotel to the list of remote, slightly odd places. When we last stopped, the barman was a bloke from Frankston. It was only when we were down the track a few hundred ks when we realised that was where Joanne Lees ran to after she and her partner were abducted by that loon.
Karumba Sunset Tavern is worth a look when up that way.
Ah yes been in there a couple of times. Last time we cheekily asked the young Irish lass working there “how’s the dating scene around here” In her thick accent she says “don’t fooken ask” while she rolled her eyes.
The old telegraph station next door was worth a quick look.
Never been up Kurumba. One day. Got as far as Lawn Hill Gorge. The bar there burnt down the day after we left. Lucky timing.
Been in the Larrimah pub in my teens and adult years. Had the dodgy zoo out the back. That’s where the town pain in the arse, Paddy Moriaty went missing.
@seefs i went to the hells angels headquarters club house out that way...long story not fit for swelknet. Alot of space to disappear out that way i noticed.
Spend a few weekends at the Royal hotel in Bedourie when working on a cattle station near there. Owned by the Smith family at the time We would go to town after weeks in what was a dry camp. Would be pissed after two stubbies Station would collect us on Sunday afternoon to drive back out lounging in the back of the camp truck or Toyotas passing round a bottle of the evil red spot rum for a needle Red spot was like a B grade Bundaberg rum made by the same company Spend two winter seasons out there. The place is on the edge of the Simpson Desert and is amazing country -huge red longitudinal dunes, brilliant flora and wildlife. A W And botany nerds should visit in a time after rain.Vast plains of colour -purple or yellow Dry water holes that come to life with whole ecosystems. The place I was on had an inland lake which when dry was where Donald Campbell did some of his speed trials. Such good memories -riding across plains covered with wind polish gibbers under a full moon moon sparkling like diamonds, rodeo every other morning before the sun came up simply to get your conveyance for work in a useful mode. Bit of a story here seeds
Awesome. H2O. That would have been different doing some station work for a couple of seasons. Love the sand country. That trip we stayed at the Royal. Had been plenty of rain and the beauty of the area was astounding.
Protein coming off that country is all organic still. With preserving for many reasons
Yes that’s right H2O about organic. You’d know more about that than me. I had a great chat years ago with an old timer in the Birdsville pub about the stations on the edge of the Simpson.
H2O wrote:
Spend a few weekends at the Royal hotel in Bedourie when working on a cattle station near there. Owned by the Smith family at the time We would go to town after weeks in what was a dry camp. Would be pissed after two stubbies Station would collect us on Sunday afternoon to drive back out lounging in the back of the camp truck or Toyotas passing round a bottle of the evil red spot rum for a needle Red spot was like a B grade Bundaberg rum made by the same company Spend two winter seasons out there. The place is on the edge of the Simpson Desert and is amazing country -huge red longitudinal dunes, brilliant flora and wildlife. A W And botany nerds should visit in a time after rain.Vast plains of colour -purple or yellow Dry water holes that come to life with whole ecosystems. The place I was on had an inland lake which when dry was where Donald Campbell did some of his speed trials. Such good memories -riding across plains covered with wind polish gibbers under a full moon moon sparkling like diamonds, rodeo every other morning before the sun came up simply to get your conveyance for work in a useful mode. Bit of a story here seeds
H2O. Hi fella. Hope you’re well.
You painted such a beautiful picture in my mind of your experience out there, memories you’ll never forget I’d imagine. Great stuff.
I’ve ventured close to that area but you’ve just inspired me to take a gander further out to where you worked.
So true, wildflowers would’ve gone nuts after rain.
Glistening gibber stones on the plain, is, in itself, a recognised geology/vegetation class, home to the Gibberbird, again thanks for your great post, for a moment there I felt like I’d been temporarily translocated to that spot. All the best. AW
Gibber plains at sunset. Different area.
Gibberbird? That’d be one tough bird.
Ripper shot seeds. Love that part of the world. Nice words H20, special memories of a special place.
seeds wrote:
Gibber plains at sunset. Different area.
Gibberbird? That’d be one tough bird.
Seeds. Hi mate, hope you and the family are well.
The bird is a species of Chat, we have a few, Crimson, Orange, Yellow and White-fronted.
It may appear tough to us mere humans, but, the bird wouldn’t occur there unless conditions are favourable, of which they are. All the best. AW
This community will be devastated. The local really is the community hub in these little towns.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-13/royal-hotel-gurley-north-west-ns…
(pictured up top of the thread), mckinlay's croc dundee walkabout creek pub proving difficult to shift, n'all.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-30/owners-of-crocodile-dundee-pub-s…
I’m surprised they can’t find a buyer.
When Croc Dundee was filmed there the pub was actually in town a few blocks from the highway. It was moved years ago to front the highway so you just gotta stop and have a look and maybe a coldie.
There’d have to be money in it through out the winter tourist season. Gotta be able to let caravaners etc be able to stay the night. Cheap stay but you have to have dinner there. If you got that paying crowd every night you're making money.
Totally unsure if that’s the case here.
Anyone want to buy a partnership in an outback pub?
I left basesix and the blue water behind this morning and headed for the scrub. I found a few places this afternoon with frothy amber water. Dinner and free camp tonight at the last one.
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Malty smell of me Coopers rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night
A hotel with a free camp, I had to have a crumbed steak
And I was thinkin' to myself, I kinda wish I was baked
So I slammed on the hand brake, gave the V8 a rest
The world can go fuck itself.. I've never been less stressed..
"Welcome to the Cradock Hotel Free Camp" (sing along if you know the lyrics..)
'So, I called up the Publican,,
" Please bring me my wine,"
He said I could go and fuck myself
or something along those lines'
Went to Calhoun’s.
Went out of business years ago. His hubris scared the customers away.
Ah bad luck. Did you go via Burra and Peterborough or up the gulf road? Such an awesome part of the world. That scenic drive out of Wilpena is fantastic in spring.
From Robe maps took me through Eden Valley, Western Barossa to Jamestown.
Going home I have to go through Peterborough to get to Broken Hill but Burra is further south.
brilliant @blackers. just named yer own album.. "ghosty almost towns"
blackers wrote:
Lots of ghosty almost towns along that route.
I love that stuff. I’ve come across quite a bit.
Just fueled up in Peterborough. Still dark and cloaked in fog. Lots of beautiful heritage buildings. Looks like Peterborough is still thriving for a little town.
Yep, like Snowtown with its serial killings on an industrial scale.
Lock your doors and don't stop the car for any reason.
Or Lochiel with its major tourist attraction of a few old car tires on a salt lake that looks like the Loch ness monster.
The land that time forgot. Love it all.
Post ya pics. Got a story?