“If anybody wants to buy this bastard, it’s for sale” were the words that saw two Yeppoon schoolmates become outback pub owners. Bush kid Grant Champion invited his city-slicker mate from school, Tom Auriac, out to western Queensland. His intention was to “make a man out of him”, however casual drinks one night saw the two buy the Stonehenge Hotel.
“Hey honey, we bought a pub”
The then-owner of the local pub, Tony Jackson, mentioned one night that he might be ready to sell the pub to its next owner. Days later, Tom Auriac and Grant Champion showed up to find out whether he was serious. 10 months on, the boys labour at the quarry during the day, and take pub orders by night. Instead of acquiring a bank loan, the previous owner agreed to act as an interest-free bank for Tom and Grant.
Off the beaten track, the Stonehenge Hotel serves both locals from surrounding properties and blow-ins.
More than just a pub
The Stonehenge Hotel is not just a place to grab a beer. It also operates as the town’s motel, caravan park, fuel station, post office and grocery store. It’s a popular destination for 4X4s travelling through the outback town. Even more, it’s the point of call for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in the case of an emergency. Many of the locals champion the idea that if the pub died, the entire town would die too. It’s not until you hear the responsibility of this pub, do you realise just how much the two schoolmates saved the town.
“If someone buys it and shuts it for half a year, the town will die, so you want to give it to someone who will keep the show going” Tom said when questioned about what happens when it’s their time to sell up. Keeping employment and ownership local is important to the town.
The boys have the town’s best interest at heart, but time will tell how long they’ll continue running the pub. We will have to wait and see who will buy the pub next and if the story will be as iconic as this one was!
