By Mick Roberts
Joe’s Waterhole in Eumundi is as Queensland as they come.
THERE is a something special about a country Queensland pub with their wide balconies, timber lattice work shading dimly lit bars and swirling ceiling fans.
Joe’s Waterhole in Eumundi on the Queensland Sunshine Coast is one of these treasures.
We visited Eumundi on a Saturday morning after a heavy downfall of rain left the humidity so high it was impossible to scratch yourself without building up a sweat.
Eumundi is a typical farming community boasting two pubs and an abundance of shops during the week.
Over the weekend a transformation takes place with swarms of tourists from all over the world visiting their famous markets.
Market day, Saturday, is no doubt, Joe’s Waterhole publican, Ray Whitting’s busiest day.
The public bar of Joe’s Waterhole overlooks the busy main street of Eumundi.
Tourists join the locals at the town’s two pubs to escape the hot steamy climate of Eumundi. And, naturally, we did the same after visiting the markets.
As a pub historian, I immediately knew this place had a story, when walking into the grand old public house.
Joe’s Waterhole was established in 1891 as the Railway Hotel by local identity EH Arundell - a small single storey timber inn, it was Eumundi’s first pub. The town’s second hotel, an elaborate two storey Queenslander style pub by the name of the Imperial, came along in 1912 and is just up the road. When the competition arrived, the Railway added a second storey and changed their sign to the Commercial.
By the way, the Imperial Hotel burnt down in 1926 and was rebuilt much the same as the original. And another point of interest, the Imperial Hotel was the birth-place of the famous Eumundi Lager, brewed on the premises up until the 1980s.
The main drag of Eumundi showing the Imperial Hotel on the corner and Joe’s Waterhole in the distance.
Anyway back Joe’s Waterhole.
As I sat enjoying a cold pot of VB in the bar, I couldn’t help but wondering who the hell was Joe.
Well, a little research later at the nearby Eumundi Museum put rest to that.
Joe Whitting, it seems, swapped a cane farm, near Maroochydore, for the then Commercial Hotel and the name stuck.
The pub is presently owned by Joe’s son Ray.
History lesson out of the way, the pub boasts an air conditioned gaming room and lounge bar, a well stocked bistro, games room and, my favourite, an excellent traditional style public bar.
The bar-top is sawn slab polished timber and with the many historic pictures adorning the walls, the pub is a must for those who enjoy fair-dinkum Aussie pubs.
This pub is as Queensland as they come.
As swarms of tourists sat at the open windows overlooking Eumundi’s main street, a group of older farmers, sweat stained hats, blue singlets and looking in need of a good scrub, sat at one end of the bar, obviously in a corner reserved strictly for regulars. Removing rollies from their bottom lip only to sip their pots of XXXX, they were no doubt wondering what had happened to their once sleepy backwater.
As would be expected in such a tourist Mecca, Eumundi is a little pricey. But, in contrast, a pot (10 oz) of most popular beers at Joe’s Waterhole will set you back a reasonable $2.25.
I recommend a visit to both pubs at Eumundi, but I felt much more comfortable in the traditional surrounds of Joe’s Waterhole.
A 1912 shot of Joe’s Waterhole when it was known as the Commercial.
ooOOoo
Mick Roberts is a journalist and hotel historian. He has had two books, The Little House on the Hill and The Local, published on the liquor industry and, besides other local history publications, is presently working on a comprehensive history of the liquor industry and hotels in the Illawarra region of NSW. His regular history feature, Looking Back, can be read in the Northern Leader newspaper distributed throughout the northern suburbs of Wollongong NSW. These feature articles also appear at his Looking Back website www.slackycreek.fcpages.com
Mick is always on the lookout for pub yarns, stories, information and old photos
and can be contacted by email at slackyflat@hotmail.com or
PO BOX 5148 Wollongong 2500.
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