Queensland’s oldest pub ready for first drinks after COVID-19 restrictions lifted
The autumn and winter seasons are usually a hive of activity at the iconic rest stop, near St George in South West Queensland, as tourists and locals descend on the bucket list destination or local meeting place.
Steve and Debbie Burns
Publicans Steve and Debbie Burns have been able prepare for what they expect will be a re-opening to remember and continue to support local jobs using a COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan.
The loan scheme administered by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA), provides finance of up to $250,000 for businesses and non-profit organisations impacted by COVID-19 to assist with carry-on expenses such as employee wages, rent and rates and other expenditure.
Queensland’s oldest pub ready for first drinks after COVID-19 restrictions lifted Steve said the loan allowed them to meet carry-on costs and maintain the pub for the when they will be able to serve the first drinks.
“The staff were sweating like we were on the tourist season starting, so the sad part was sitting down with them and telling them we had to close with 15 hours notice,” he said. “They were every bit as devastated as we were but they understood. “We still had to pay bills and maintenance so the loan has allowed us to keep going. “It will be spent wisely in the bush and invested back into local services and trades as much as possible.
“It has taken the weight off our shoulders and given us so much more breathing space. The loan has enabled us to do what we need to do to be able to re-open. When it was approved it was a huge relief.
“The first night is going to be mad, every local in a 100k radius is going to be here.”
Steve said the pub was popular destination for tourists during the cooler months.
“The tourist season runs from Easter to October every year and we normally serve up to 60,000 tourists a year, sometimes as many as 500 meals a day and they drink as much as they eat,” he said.
“They come for happy hour and have a feed but end up staying for a week. They find it pretty relaxing in the outback.
“The pub’s age is the main reason people want to see it, it’s very historical and we’ve had total respect for it since the day we got her 18 years ago. The windows, doors and knobs are all the same as when it was built in 1864. It’s a nice feeling for us too, that it’s an original.”
Like many outback hotels, the Nindigully Pub is also a vital meeting place the region’s farming community and source of support during the drought.
“In a country pub like ours, for many locals it’s emotional support to go to the pub to meet their mates,” Steve said.
“We are a meeting place. They come down for the mental contact they need because they can’t have a chat over the fence.
“They talk about what they’re doing, how they’re feeling and how the market is going. They need the pub.”
“It [the loan] has taken the weight off our shoulders and given us so much more breathing space.”
Steve said the COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan helped them to foresee a future when the farming community would be back at the pub.
“We are here for the long haul, we love the place,” he said.
Existing COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan clients can find important information about the ongoing management of their loans on the COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan page.
QRIDA is delivering the $1 billion COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan Scheme on behalf of the Queensland Government.
