Australia's most iconic pub is up for sale

The iconic Birdsville Hotel, which last changed hands in 1980, is on the market.

Built in 1884 and 1600km west of Brisbane on the edge of the Simpson Desert, the sandstone pub is a popular tourist destination. It attracts thousands of visitors during school holidays and the milder winter months, with the Big Red Bash Music Festival and annual Birdsville Races in September being peak periods.

Included the sale of the hotel and 27 motel rooms are the liquor licence, goodwill, intellectual property, business name, plant and equipment and stock in trade.

Additionally, there are two detached residences, an industrial block and an aviation fuel supply business operated by the current hotel owners.

The expressions of interest campaign, being managed by Knight Frank and Steele & ­Associates Hotel Brokers, is expected to attract international as well as local interest.

Former owner Dick Smith is among those who are kicking the tyres. He famously owned the hotel for one day in 1979 when his offer to buy it was accepted, but the building to burn down the next day and he rescinded the contract.

“I love the pub, even though I don’t drink, but it’s a wonderful place and I love Birdsville,” Smith told Commercial Real Estate. 

“I don’t know much about pubs, but I’ll be talking to my friend Singo [businessman John Singleton] who does and, although it’ll depend on the price, I’d love us to buy it.

“It would be such a disappointment if it didn’t sell to an Australian. It doesn’t bear thinking about if it was bought from China.”

The pub is currently owned by organic cattle farmer David Brook and his friend Kim Fort. Brook’s grandmother bought the hotel in 1920, and kept ownership until the 1940s.

Brook bought it back in 1979 after the sale to Smith fell through and restored it. 

“The time has come now, after nearly 40 years, to step back and let someone else have a go," he said. "We have a great team in there running it day to day, so it’s not much work, and it’s going very well.”

As for how much the pub is worth, Darren Steele, director of Steele & Associates Hotel Brokers, and Guy Bennett from Knight Frank are saying it's too early to speculate on price.  

However, Smith paid $62,000 for the hotel in 1979 and there were offers around $5 million for it around 2007. So we're thinking you'll need deep pockets.