Queenstown’s Empire Hotel, on the west coast of Tasmania, has found a creative way of encouraging locals and tourists alike in for a pint.
Last week the pub began subtracting the daily per-litre price of diesel from the price of a pint of Carlton Dry, every Thursday and Friday between 4 and 5pm.
With Fuelcheck Tas reporting local diesel prices ranging from 299.9 to 326.9 cents per litre as at time of writing, this takes $3 to $3.27 off the usual price of $14 of a Carlton Dry pint.
Manager David Newall reported that the promotion was already a hit, although it was not just about making a few dollars but giving back to the community.
“Inflation is a pain in the gas, but at The Empire, we reckon your throat shouldn’t be as dry as your fuel tank,” said a post on the pub’s Facebook page.
“We’re introducing the Diesel discount – the only time you’ll actually want to see those numbers across the road climb.”
Local fuel company Tas Petroleum, one of only two local petrol stations, caught wind of the promotion, and to help kick it off slapped $1,000 on the bar last Friday.
General manager of Tas Petroleum, Nathan Thurlow, said supporting the promotion made sense for such a small community, even if comparing beer and fuel prices might be surprising.
Thurlow joked that while people often complain about high fuel prices, the real overcharge is probably on heavily tax-laden beer.
The 125-year-old Empire Hotel is a heritage-listed landmark built during the town’s mining boom, often described as the “grand old lady” of Tasmania’s West Coast.
It remains a central part of Queenstown, known for its historic character, including a distinctive National Trust–listed blackwood staircase and traditional pub-style accommodation and dining.
For now, as diesel prices fluctuate daily, so too will the cost of a pint.
