07 Jan 2026
Words
Jessica Elder The Courier-Mail
Historic Post Office Hotel for sale as new mine boosts outback town
A historic outback pub on a quarter acre that was twice devastated by fire has hit the market for $1.7m.
The Post Office Hotel has been a landmark in the Cloncurry community since 1901. It opened as The Union in the late 1800s, a small one storey hotel.
In 1901 it was rebranded as the Post Office Hotel and in 1907 it was refurbished to a grand two storey building.
The outback Queensland pub, situated between Mount Isa and Julia Creek has twice been gutted by fire and rebuilt, once in 1914 and again in 1932.
Listing agent at ResortBrokers, Leah Bursztynowicz, said it was an iconic pub that had attracted a lot of attention.
“The Post Office Hotel has a lot of history, it’s on a significant block of land, at just under 3000 sqm, there is potential to expand,” she said.
“In terms of the accommodation side of things, demand outweighs supply in the area, there are a lot of transient workers, a strong outback drive tourism season in the winter … there is a high occupancy rate all year.
“We have seen these regional assets become more popular, especially post-Covid, people have made money on real estate in the cities and are looking to move out to regional areas – and you can buy yourself a job.”
Ms Bursztynowicz said there had been strong interest and they expected the historic pub would be sold soon.
The hotel includes a public bar, bistro, gaming room, 33-room accommodation – with potential for an owner or manager to live on site – and a recently installed 80kW solar system.
The well-established pub – offered to the market as tenanted – can continue to operate with local management and staff, including backpackers with hospitality experience.
The shire of Cloncurry has a population of just over 3500, but a newly approved copper mine is expected to bring more workers to the area.
The Eva Copper Mine Project – located just 75 kilometres from town – received final approval in November.
The mine is forecast to become Queensland’s largest copper operation and contribute up to $17 billion to the state’s economy, generating around 3000 jobs a year and $24 million in annual regional spending. END
