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“I think whatever you do in a pub should
authentically reflect the community within
which it sits. I am much more inspired by
the old relics than anything new. They’re
usually so wrong, they’re right.”
FIVE SMALL-TOWN HOTELS
YOU HAVE TO VISITTHE SIR GEORGE, JUGIONG, NSW
Having originally been built in 1845 before
being washed away by the flood waters
of the Murrumbidgee River and then
rebuilt in 1852, The Sir George in Jugiong
knows a thing or two about reinvention.
After two years’ worth of renovations,
the pub reopened in 2016 boasting a
road-trip worthy restaurant, boutique
accommodation, an artisan bakery, convivial
bar and plenty of buzz. sirgeorge.com.au
THE LOADED DOG HOTEL, TARAGO, NSW
Located 69 kilometres from Canberra in
the town of Tarago and named for Henry
Lawson’s celebrated story, The Loaded
Dog (built in 1848) has earned a reputation
for its live country music gigs staged on the
third Saturday of the month, with a parade
of big names appearing over the years.
loadeddoghotel.com
THE FAMILY HOTEL, TIBOOBURRA, QLD
Located in Corner Country (where the
states of Queensland, New South Wales
and South Australia meet), The Family
Hotel was built in 1882 but was put on
the map in the 1960s when artists including
Clifton Pugh and Russell Drysdale visited to
paint the surrounding outback scenes and
left works of art on the walls of the pub.
tibooburra.com.au/the-family-hotel
NINDIGULLY PUB, THALLON, QLD
Sitting on the banks of the Moonie River
in the town of Thallon, official population
nine, the Nindigully Pub was issued a licence
in 1864, making it the oldest continuously
licensed pub in Queensland. Today it
attracts visitors with its enormous Road
Train burgers (they feed four) and the 140
or so Akubras that adorn the walls, donated
by patrons over the years. nindigullypub.com
THE COMMERCIAL BOUTIQUE HOTEL,
TENTERFIELD, NSW
This imposing Art Deco gem sits in pride
of place in the New England town of
Tenterfield; it was originally built in 1856
before being demolished in the 1930s and
rebuilt in the style of the day in the 1940s.
It now offers up a restaurant, cafe and
bar, as well as eight luxuriously appointed
rooms. thecommercialboutiquehotel.comGroup wants to deliver the Adelaide stalwart to its former glory.
Adelaide pubs have been under threat from the city’s burgeoning
small-bar scene since 2013 when a new class of liquor licensing for
small venues was introduced.
Brown, who boasts small-bar experiences under The Big Easy
banner, says The Stag needs to tap into what has made Adelaide’s
small bars so successful.
“I think people associate good service and speciality service or
great knowledge with small bars, but less so with the pubs,” he says.
“We’re really trying to focus on that customer experience ... so
hopefully we’re going to start seeing a resurgence in pubs.”
In an effort to revisit The Stag’s halcyon days, Brown says a
“sense of community needs to pass through everything”. The first
change was to make way for a longer bar, which invites patrons,
especially those flying solo, to “have a bit of a chinwag” if they’re so
inclined. The Big Easy Group has also introduced flexible furniture
arrangements, ensuring that a victorious footy team can be just as
easily accommodated as a date night.
It’s a strategy Trimble would certainly approve of. Win or lose,
you’ll find the sexagenarian at the Newbridge Hotel following the
Maroons’ next home game, where his club is always accommodated,
the beer is always sweet and the community spirit even sweeter.
GETAWAYS | Pub culture