One of Australia’s most famous hotels and icons of the red centre has sold, bringing new outback blood to the heritage-listed Birdsville Hotel.
Located a leisurely 1,600 kilometres west of Brisbane and 1,200 north of Adelaide, the western Queensland town of Birdsville would be perhaps the definition of ‘off the beaten track’ were it not for the thousands that make the pilgrimage there each year.
They come to see the Big Red Bash Music Festival in July, and famous Birdsville Races in September, made all the better for time spent at the cultural masterpiece of red earth country that is the town’s striking sandstone pub.
Built 1884, it has long stood as an oasis in the desert, enjoying many colourful custodians, nearly including Dick Smith, who agreed in 1979 to buy it for $62,000 – a day before it went up in flames.
The sale ultimately fell through, but it was soon acquired by David Brook, whose grandmother had owned it from 1920 into the 1940s. Brook and his wife Nell partnered with friends Kim and Jo Fort, restoring it with a view to offer quality food and accommodation for families.
The business, on a generous 6,580sqm lot, includes 27 motel units near the main building, two detached residences, an industrial block, and an aviation fuel supply operation. In recent years it has been operated completely under management.
In 2018 the families announced consideration of a sale, hoping the property would stay in Australian hands. Both Dick Smith and John Singleton kicked the tyres, but despite considerable national interest a sale has proven difficult.
Courtney and Talia Ellis have been frequent visitors to Birdsville for the past decade and working the outback for even longer. Talia is a former outback pilot, and now the chief pilot at Spirit Aviation.
Courtney founded Outback Spirit Tours, expanding from one 14-seat 4WD to a fleet of 40 off-road vehicles and two-dozen guided tours.
Last October he sold the business to Journey Beyond, which owns many travel-based businesses around the country including The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern, and was looking to find a new challenge.
Negotiations with the Birdsville owners began in earnest mid-2019, with the eventual sale reported at around $6 million.
The Ellis family has owned pubs in the past, sometimes several at a time, and Courtney suggests it’s in the family’s blood.
The proud new owners, who will move to town during the major tourism period and return to home base in Albury at other times, say they have no plans for any significant changes at the old local, telling the ABC they’ll enjoy this new extension to their travelling talents.
“I’m looking forward to being in the bar and talking to guests as they come in, learning about where they are going or coming from,” said Courtney.
