19 Feb 2025
Words Hannah Walsh and Grace Nakamura ABC News

More than a dozen outback Queensland pubs for sale

Ben Pelizzari cannot tell you how many beers he, his mum and dad, and his grandparents have poured over the decades, but he knows it is finally time for someone else to stand behind the bar.

The Pelizzaris have operated pubs in a small country town for three generations, but that family tradition is about to stop.

Their Barcaldine pub is up for sale.

“She’s a tough gig,” he said.

“A lot of long hours. It’s a lifestyle and you have to know what you’re doing because if you don’t it can really take a toll.

“Sixty-seven years is probably enough for our family. We’re ready to pass it onto the next people that want to put their stamp on it.”

The Australian dream of running a country pub might still be alive in late-night chats with mates, but is it still financially viable?

There are currently more than a dozen pubs for sale in outback Queensland.

A read door into a pub painted blue.

Mr Pelizzari believes a good pub is one that can adapt to what the community needs.

“I think the strong will survive,” he said.

“If you stay in your lane you can make some money, but you’re not going to come here and make a million dollars a year in profit.

“We’re a gaming pub. We’re not a bottle shop. We’re not trying to be a cafe.”

With overheads like electricity and insurance surging, some outback publicans are opting out.

“If you don’t love it you'll hate it,” Mr Pelizzari said.

Comes with challenges

Further north-west and the town of Winton is about to celebrate 150 years.

But it might do it without one of its iconic pubs.

The Australian Hotel was placed into voluntary administration and has been on the market since last year.

Despite the appeal of country pubs, senior broker David Faiers said they can be difficult to sell.

“The challenges are probably restricted with lifestyle. It’s quite a big change for city folk to move to the country,” Mr Faiers said.

“It’s very seasonal — high volume peak tourist periods in the winter with grey nomads and the travellers throughout the west, and the summer quietens right down.”

Change on the menu

Sharon Broughton took over the Shakespeare Hotel in Barcaldine two years ago.

This year the grand, two-storey building with sweeping verandahs will turn 100.

“Someone said to me ‘do you know what you’re doing because you’ll be working 100 hours and that’s still not enough,’” she said with a chuckle.

But Ms Broughton is on a mission to make pubs a more accessible space.

“A lot of pubs have been taken over by women who want to get rid of the pokies, make it less a place for gambling and drinking hard,” she said.

“I want this place to be a community hub … where people can feel relaxed, and women feel a lot more comfortable here I've noticed.”

Not for everyone

Jamie Menzies and her ex-partner relocated to Wyandra, a tiny town in south-west Queensland with a population of 78 people, to run the pub.

Ms Menzies said she found the experience isolating.

“It just didn’t work for us,” she said.

“There weren’t many people my own age or that had the same interests as me. I’m not your stock standard country girl.”

The pub is currently under contract and the new owners, a couple with kids, are set to take over in March.

Company ownership increasing

According to the Queensland Hotels Association (QHA) the proportion of corporate-owned pubs is increasing in outback Queensland.

“Over the last few years, as we’ve come out of the pandemic, people have realised it’s tough to run a hotel at the present time,” he said.

“There’s a lot of different costs that are rising … like power and the cost of labour, insurance.

“With a larger company they can negotiate lower rates, particularly when it comes to insurance.”

Diversifying from traditional

In Longreach an American-style cowboy bar sporting neon signs and flat-screen televisions has cropped up on the main street.

Local businessman Brecken Curtis saw an opportunity to create a point of difference.

“We have enough country pubs. People are looking for variety rather than more of the same,” he said.

“[Chute1] has limited staff, it’s a small footprint so you’re able to handle that summer ebb more than what you are with a bigger venue.

“We’re only open three days a week which keeps it fresh as well.”

Mr Hogan said a rural pub was still the lifeblood of the community.

“It’s just like every business. You’ve got to make sure the figures add up,” he said.

“You’ve got to let the head and the heart work in unison.” END