Five regional Queensland pubs for sale right now

Federal Hotel, Maryborough

The home of Mary Poppins – author P. L. Travers was born here in 1899 – Maryborough is a bustling historic town oozing with charm. Situated on the Mary River, the Fraser Coast town is four hours north of Brisbane and 30 minutes from Hervey Bay.

In prime position on Maryborough’s Kent Street and not far from Queen’s Park, the Federal Hotel is offered by Century 21 Platinum Agents.

The two-storey premises comprise a main bar, a newly configured stainless steel commercial kitchen and two dining rooms on the ground floor, with a function room and bar and three lodging rooms on the top floor.

The property also includes a separate, three-bedroom manager’s quarters with private access from the rear.

Currently operating on varied hours, the pub offers plenty of growth potential for a motivated new owner.

Babinda State Hotel, Babinda

If you closed your eyes and imagined a country Queensland pub, you’d probably be thinking of the Babinda State Hotel.

Listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, the hotel has quite an unusual history. It was built by the Queensland government in 1917, reportedly to boost the state’s economy after World War I, then sold 13 years later. It has been privately owned ever since.

Now the pub, which sprawls across 1884 square metres on Babinda’s main street, is once again available for sale.

The building contains a fully licensed bar, bottle shop and restaurant, as well as a cafe and function room, a commercial kitchen and an accommodation wing with 18 rooms and a main residence.

According to the listing agent, Tourism Brokers, net profit for the last financial year was just over $240,000.

Hotel Metropole, Ipswich

For those leaning more towards a late-night lifestyle, Ipswich’s Hotel Metropole could be just the ticket.

The two-storey venue can be found in the historic Top of Town precinct – a stretch of Brisbane Street peppered with original shop facades and heritage buildings.

The Hotel Metropole is one of those buildings. Built in 1906, it was designed by renowned Ipswich architect George Brockwell Gill and was added to the Queensland Heritage Register just over 30 years ago. While it has undergone a name change or two in its 120-year history, it reverted to the Hotel Metropole branding in the mid-2000s.

With three bars and the area’s only 3am license for a night club, the Hotel Metropole is ripe for entertainment.

Representing agents Tourism Brokers say the pub has experienced “continual upward growth” under its current ownership. They point to the projected growth of the local economy – said to be worth $12.7 billion by next year – as presenting the perfect opportunity for investment.

“The population of Ipswich is booming, adding a further 8356 residents over the past year and preparing to welcome its 260,000th resident, strengthening its reputation as one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing cities in Australia,” the listing says.

Imperial Hotel, Quilpie

Sitting on the Natural Sciences Loop and the Warrego Way, Quilpie is the gateway to the outback. A welcoming stop on the way to tourist destinations like Eromanga, Windorah and Birdsville, the “RV-friendly town”  has plenty to offer travellers – fossicking for opals, admiring the view from Baldy Top Lookout, taking a trip through history at the Quilpie Shire Museum.

Followed, of course, by a stop at the Imperial Hotel for a refreshing beverage and a bite to eat.

As the main pub in town, the Imperial services the local population of 500 residents, as well as the influx of tourists that come through from all over Australia. Sitting on a 3246-square-metre block, the property includes an eight-room hotel at the rear of the building and a neighbouring three-bed brick building for additional accommodation.

The main building holds the bar area, dining room, kitchen and cold rooms, as well as a drive-through bottleshop and plenty of storage space for stock.

Royal Murgon, Murgon

If you’re going to buy a pub in Queensland, why not make it a Queenslander?

Just off the Bunya Highway, three hours north of Brisbane and 90 kilometres west of Gympie, the Royal Murgon is touted as “historic charm meets modern potential”. Though the listing suggests there may be some work to do on the business itself, there seems to be plenty of opportunities on offer.

“The large footprint has solid foundations and underutilised accommodation upstairs,” says Tourism Brokers in the property listing. “The 16-plus rooms, all with air-conditioners, are barely used and could certainly cater for a wider market and make good income for the property.

“Used either as short-term or long-term accommodation, the choice is yours depending on how you want to operate the property.”