Despite recent high hopes to soon be back in the saddle and serving up good times, yesterday the time-honoured Great Western Hotel in Rockhampton announced it will not be reopening due to the pandemic shutdown and downturn.
Established 1862, the Great Western (GWH) is an iconic two-storey brick and timber corner pub on the main drag through Rocky, skirted by the obligatory second-floor balcony.
Highway A1 passes directly through town on its way north to Mackay and beyond, and both Rockhampton and the GWH rely heavily on overseas and interstate visitors.
Queensland has been the slowest to relax COVID-19 restrictions, with venues still mired under strict social distancing regulation, as travel remains limited and borders closed.
The pub has become reliant on major rodeos and entertainment events coming to town, and it is uncertain when these will resume. A few years ago it was also included in the Newman government’s Safe Night Precinct program.
Owners Colin and Vickie Bowden say all these have combined to have a “major impact” on the GWH’s viability.
“We apologise to our locals,” they said via social media.
“We would personally like to thank our general manager, Denis Cox, who has done an outstanding job over the past 18 months, and to all our hard working staff … we consider you all family.”
The Bowdens feel confident the GWH will find a continued future, adding “We welcome expressions of interest to purchase or lease” the freehold or business.
