Iconic Aussie Outback Pubs I've visited - BIRDSVILLE HOTEL (Queensland)

Pubs in Australia has, over the years, become an important part of the landscape and more so the pubs in the outback. Those that stood the test of time has become icons with each pub unique in its own right.

As in the cities, outback pubs are where the locals meet and it is also a wonderful place for travellers to quench their thirsts from the outback heat and dust.

For me, as I travel through this land, it is my quest to get to know as much about the locality as possible so I become part of the land than being just a tourist. To do this there is no better place than a visit to the local pub and spending some time with the locals.

To those who haven't been to Australia, our land area is 7.6 million sq kms (2.9 million sq miles) with a human population of only 24 million. This will give you an idea of the number of people per square km/mile. Since almost all our cities are along the coastal line, much of the outback (desert country) is sparsely populated. Some of the outback towns are as remote as they can get. Most of them servicing the cattle stations (Cattle ranches) whilst some used to act as service points for the telegraph lines/railway lines. It is the pure resilience of the people of these towns that have ensured the survival of these amazing little outback towns even to this date.

For the benefit of my international followers/readers, I have done a more detailed blog post of how remote and vast the Australian outback is in another post.
Post available at https://steemit.com/travel/@overlandjournals/vastness-of-australia-for-overlanding

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BIRDSVILLE HOTEL - QUEENSLAND

Originally established back in 1878 as a service centre for outlying cattle stations, Birdsville is one of the most isolated towns in Australia. It is in the middle of nowhere one could say. At present, the town has a population of around 110 of which only 90 or so make up permanent residents.

In the early days the town had had three hotels, however, only Birdsville Hotel has stood the test of time, still standing proud as the only hotel/pub.

Birdsville was the perfectly located in the central point of a cattle stock route connecting Queensland and South Australia. The town was a stopover for drovers (horsemen driving herds of cattle). It was also was a customs post. Within a few years of the town coming to being, Birdsville Hotel was built by William Blair in 1884. It's sandstone walls are a welcome sight to travellers today as it would have been over 100 years ago.

Over the years, the pub has faced floods and fires. It was almost completely destroyed by fire in the late 1970s. Fully restored, the pub still stands proud as an integral part of Outback Australia. The front section of the pub is still as original as it was when first built back in the 1880s.

As we drove into Birdsville from crossing the Simpson Desert, we made a beeline to this iconic watering hole for a much needed cold drink and a shower.

At the entrance to the pub, I was greeted by a mid-sized dog sitting on one of the window sills. As I walked in, I was greeted by a vibrant atmosphere of relaxed chatter between locals and other travellers​ like my self. The walls of the pub were filled with pictures and other memorabilia from the years past (as seen in other outback pubs). On the upper part of the bar wall was a collection of hats. Hats from travellers​ I assume.

Inside the pub, I couldn't help noticing the dog on the windowsill. He was still there, staring into the pub. Speaking to the staff behind the bar counter I learned that the dog belongs to a local legend by the name of Jimmy who has visited the pub every single day for the past several decades.

As Jimmy would spend time in the pub catching up with fellow locals and travellers​, the little dog would always sit on the windowsill keeping a close eye on his master. If Jimmy was to move to another location within the pub, then the faithful companion would move to a window that gave him a better view of Jimmy.

I was in luck, Jimmy was seated not too far from me. So I made my way to him and introduced my self. Jimmy was once a cattle drover. For many years, driving cattle stock from Birdsville to Maree (500km/310mi South from Birdsville) and further south to Adelaide (1100km/685mi from Birdsville). Now retired, Jimmy had lots of tales from the years gone by as we shared a couple of beers​ together.

As for Jimmy's faithful companion, his name was Taud.

Live life to the fullest, it's too short to procrastinate​!
Duncan Udawatta

Other pubs I've visited:

Mungeranie Hotel (South Australia)
https://steemit.com/travel/@overlandjournals/iconic-aussie-outback-pubs-i-ve-visited-mungeranie-hotel-south-australia

Mt Dare Hotel (South Australia)
https://steemit.com/travel/@overlandjournals/iconic-aussie-outback-pubs-i-ve-visited-mt-dare-hotel-south-australia

The Pink Road House (South Australia)
https://steemit.com/travel/@overlandjournals/iconic-aussie-outback-pubs-i-ve-visited-the-pink-roadhouse-oodnadatta

Birdsville Hotel (Queensland)
https://steemit.com/travel/@overlandjournals/iconic-aussie-outback-pubs-i-ve-visited-birdsville-hotel-queensland

#tinyplanet #teamaustralia #overlanding