Iconic Aussie Outback Pubs I've visited - MUNGERANIE HOTEL (South Australia)
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
MUNGERANIE HOTEL - SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Mungeranie (Aboriginal for "big ugly face) is located in the state of South Australia 300km (186mi) south of the outback town of Birdsville in the state of Queensland. This is the nearest town for Mungeranie. Absolutely nothing in between.
Independently owned Mungeranie Hotel pretty much serves to the cattle and sheep station staff (mainly the Mungeranie station)as well as travellers taking the Birdsville track heading north towards the town of Birdsville and beyond or heading south towards Marree and Adelaide.
Apart from stopping over for a drink, as we did, the hotel offers camping and accommodation for those looking to break their journey or wanting to visit the local wetlands rich with birdlife. The wetlands are fed by an artesian bore from the Great Artesian Basin.
Mungeranie Hotel was built in 1886 providing a watering hole for the once thriving little town which in the early 1900s comprised of a blacksmith shop, coaching stables, a police station, store and a bore-keepers house. The drought of 1920 pretty much drove most people out of the town, but the hotel somehow continued. Today the population is said to be no more than 30. This includes the three managing the hotel.
Despite having provided alcohol to thirsty patrons since it's inception, the pub officially obtained a liquor license only in 1989. A minor oversight during the previous years no doubt.
Apart from being a welcome stopover for travellers, it was also a stopover for mail contractors. Today decaying mail trucks from the 40s and 50s stand neatly arranged on one side of the property as a reminder of an era gone by.
Other quirks of the hotel property include a bus stand and aMcDonald's signboard. Though I must admit, I felt the signboard was not a welcome sight for me. Quirky nevertheless.
Inside the pub, every inch of wall and ceiling is taken up by various memorabilia as one would find in most Outback pubs. My particular attention was the impressive collection of hats (and men's and women's underwear) from those who have passed through over the years. As I always wonder, if only there walls and hats could talk (not to forget the underwear). Each item once belonged to a traveler and how I would give anything to know about each of these travelers and their story. Wasn't too sure, though, if I wanted to hear the underwear talk. Would have been interesting though.
Over the years Mungeranie Hotel has changed hands a number of times. Each new owner bringing in their own colour and character to the place whilst maintaining the long-standing traditions of this icon of the Australian Outback. The last I heard, the hotel was up for sale in February 2017. Though I spent a few hours at this location in June 2017, I never got the opportunity to ask as to who the new owners were.
Whoever the new owners may be and how many more change of hands the pub may have in the future, I am sure this iconic pub will carry on for another 100 years at least.
Live life to the fullest, it's too short to procrastinate!
Duncan Udawatta
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Very interesting! We did a 2 month roadtrip through Oz 2 years ago, stopped at something similar on our day tour from Alice to Uluru, but the closest we got to your pub was on The Ghan from Alice to Adelaide, so thanks for sharing.
Following. You can find my Oz posts (and NZ too) on worldmap.
Safe travels.
The Ghan must have been a wonderful experience. Hope you enjoyed our little city - Adelaide :)
I looking forward to reading your posts.
Glad you have looked at my posts! The Ghan was indeed wonderful. Sadly don't think we will get back to Oz - other places to see and not much time left! But if you come our way for an equally long road trip let me know!
I certainly will let you know. Would love to do north and south America one day.
The Ghan you took runs on the new Ghan track which came into being in 1980. The pubs I mentioned (Oodnadatta Hotel & Mungeraine Hotel) was near the old Ghan track which was initially put up in the late 1800s. The two tracks are several 100kms apart.
At the time the old Ghan track was followed by the Overland Telegraph line which linked Australia to the rest of the world. As time has progressed, both the railway line and the telegraph lines have relegated to history.
Today for 4x4 overlanders the old Ghan track offers a trip down history's memory lane offering many nostalgic points of interest to take in. Not just the railway and telegraph infrastructure from a yesteryear but also the many towns that existed during this once illustrious time.
Thr Ghan got its name from the Afgan camel teams who operated transport caravans to the various outback towns from the railway stations/sidings.
I'm into train travel and The Ghan was on my list to do, so I was familiar with most of its history (and managed I think not to bore my wife as I explained a lot to her!). But I didn't realize the old track was so far off - thanks for that!
@brightongreg one of my bucket list trips for this year is to follow part of the old Ghan track. Camping under some of the disused railway line bridges and also some of the disused railway stations. Will certainly do a post once I do the trip.
PS- did you know, during the federation days, each state had different rail line track gauges. This was to prevent the states from invading other states. Railway lines was the only way, those days, to move troops so the tracks were kept at different gauges. :)
I didn't realize the states were that distrustful of each other! Interesting but funny too!
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This is a good idea showing the outback pubs. I've been to a few but not the ones you have featured so far. I wonder if there is a book made of this subject. Must be. If not a good idea to publicise.