Outback Queensland Pubs – Restored & Reopened
Great news for visitors to the Outback! Several Outback Queensland pubs that were closed, have now been restored and reopened – and now welcoming guests once again! Find out more below about the history and reopening of these iconic Aussie pubs in the Outback.
Quamby Pub
The Quamby Pub is located 30 minutes’ drive north-west of Cloncurry. It was first established in the 1860’s as a Customs House but was transformed into a hotel in 1916. The Pub was abandoned in 2013, but with help from locals and travellers, Gold Coast residents, Nigel and Karen Sheiles, together with their friends, Grey and Wendy White, were able to restore the Pub.
The ‘Pub in the Scrub’ reopened its doors in April 2023 and has become a popular place for travellers to “Stop, Rest Awhile” – the meaning of Quamby which is derived from the Aboriginal language. The Pub has friendly staff, great beer, and tasty grub. There is also a kid’s playground, pool, amenities, and accommodation that also includes a camping area.
Kalkadoon Hotel
The Kalkadoon Hotel, also referred to as the ‘Wild West Pub’, is located in the small town of Kajabbi. The town itself is situated in the rural locality of Three Rivers, also near Cloncurry. Due to a continued decline in the town’s population, the Hotel was closed in 2006. After nearly two decades, the Hotel was restored and reopened in April 2022 thanks to Jeff and Lynette Bambrick.
The Hotel is a family friendly pub that is open for lunch and dinner. There is cold beer, milkshakes, ice blocks, coffee, and great pub food like burgers and chips. Enjoy great outback hospitality, with camping accommodation also available.
Betoota Hotel
The Betoota Hotel is an iconic Aussie outback pub located in a ghost town 167km east of Birdsville. The Hotel closed in 1997 and was reopened in 2020 by publican Robert ‘Robbo’ Haken as a partnership with some of his friends. In August 2023, the Hotel celebrated its 100th birthday!
The Hotel has traditional country meals, cold beer, accommodation, a friendly atmosphere, and “5-star hospitality”. They even sell their own ‘Betoota Hotel’ merchandise! The Betoota Hotel is an iconic Aussie pub that should not be missed on your Outback adventure.
Toompine Pub / South Western Hotel
Toompine Pub is less than an hour’s drive south of Quilpie, and is known as the Toompine South Western Hotel and ‘the Pub without a Town’. It was built in 1893 to replace the original hotel that burnt down. In more recent years, the Pub ran the risk of being boarded up due to an insufficient town water source. However, Quilpie locals, Stuart and Kate Bowen, came to the rescue by purchasing the Pub in 2019. They restored the landmark with their daughter, Lauren, and son-in-law, Sean.
The Pub has delicious food, cakes, cold beer, and barista style coffee. You can enjoy an all-day lunch and dinner menu, together with great service and friendly folks. There is also camping accommodation available.
The Pub’s ‘Welcome Back to Toompine’ official reopening with celebrations took place from 29th September to 2nd October 2023.
The Mucka Pub
The Mucka Pub, also referred to as “The Bup”, is located in the rural town of Muckadilla. The Pub is half an hour’s drive east of Roma and is described as the ‘heart and soul’ of the town. When the Pub was destroyed by a fire in 2019, there was concern that the town would disappear with it. However, Christy and Marty Coomber rebuilt the Pub with the reopening taking place in 2021.
Today, the award-winning Pub is surrounded by beautiful native gardens, camping accommodation, and a swimming pool! The Pub is open for lunch and dinner, with parmies, pizzas, burgers, and chips being some of the menu items.
Sadleir’s Waterhole / The Morven Hotel
Sadleir’s Waterhole, also known as the Morven Hotel, is located an hour’s drive east of Charleville. In 2016, the Hotel burnt down, but eight local families came together to rebuild the Pub. In 2020, the Pub was reopened and is once again the heart of the community.
The Pub has delicious food, friendly staff, and a pool table where regular competitions are held for your chance to win a bar voucher! For accommodation, the Pub is associated with Pick A Box Motel – guests check in at Morven Hotel and then walk right next door to the accommodation! Motel guests also receive 10% off meals at Sadleir’s Waterhole (specials excluded).
Keen to experience more Outback food, drinks, and hospitality? Check out 15 of the best places to experience an outback menu, or if you’re looking for a sweet treat then here’s 11 bakeries worth stopping for in outback Queensland!
