It may have been under reported as I haven't seen any footage on regular news outlets.
The Bollon Pub and attached Cafe' has been totally destroyed by fire, (7.30 pm Sat 22nd Feb).
It has always been one of our favorite places to spend a few days R & R.
Hendo said
10:45 AM Feb 25, 2025
On Sky News on Monday. Sad
Gaylehere said
09:06 AM Feb 26, 2025
Yes, so sad.
dogbox said
09:29 AM Feb 26, 2025
seems to be a few old pubs going to heaven in the news recently
rgren2 said
09:49 AM Feb 26, 2025
Lot of country pubs up for sale atm. Could be called a fire sale.
rmoor said
11:33 AM Feb 26, 2025
I would suggest the February and August regular tax hikes implemented by the government in power in the early eighties is now having a massive effect.
Ill health was the cause for me having to go off beer four years ago.
In many ways I am glad that is so as I believe in some local pubs now it is over $8 for the standard schooner.
Almost impossible for the average bloke going to the pub a few days a week to sustain that.
On top of that the high cost of beef, lamb etc really makes some pubs non-viable in terms of a profit from the kitchen.
I know in NSW the only avenue for some pubs to survive is the pokies.
Throw in high electricity, insurance etc costs and pubs are really going to struggle down the track.
One local publican told me over a beer a few years ago he had 73 electrical appliances in his (small) bar.
He said back then he was losing $1,000 a week in the kitchen and it had a great reputation and was well supported by patrons.
A lot of the local drug dealers used to "wash" their extensive profits through his pokies, and without the bandits in his back room the pub was not a viable proposition.
Cupie said
12:09 PM Feb 26, 2025
rmoor wrote:
I would suggest the February and August regular tax hikes implemented by the government in power in the early eighties is now having a massive effect. Ill health was the cause for me having to go off beer four years ago. In many ways I am glad that is so as I believe in some local pubs now it is over $8 for the standard schooner.
Almost impossible for the average bloke going to the pub a few days a week to sustain that. On top of that the high cost of beef, lamb etc really makes some pubs non-viable in terms of a profit from the kitchen. I know in NSW the only avenue for some pubs to survive is the pokies.
Throw in high electricity, insurance etc costs and pubs are really going to struggle down the track. One local publican told me over a beer a few years ago he had 73 electrical appliances in his (small) bar. He said back then he was losing $1,000 a week in the kitchen and it had a great reputation and was well supported by patrons.
A lot of the local drug dealers used to "wash" their extensive profits through his pokies, and without the bandits in his back room the pub was not a viable proposition.
Regular tax increases probably had an effect on hotel custom & profitability, but successive governments of both complections had ample opportunity to repeal or change that
legislation.
I love Bollon as a place to stop over. Just soo peaceful going for an early morning or a sunset paddle along the milky water of the river and a nice camping spot right in the middle of town. I use several photos of the main street including one with an Emu crossing the road towards the pub as wallpaper on my laptop.
As a youth in the 1960's I spent a lot of time in that area hunting wild pigs and the like. Had many a beer & Amity Rum chaser in that pub .. no problems with underage drinking (or DUI) in those days.
Back in the day, a local Grazier parked a Rolls Royce in a tumble down shed in the main street. When he was going to town he would swap his beat up farm ute for the roller and head off. Wasn't just a rumour 'cause we peaked in the shed and saw it. circa 1965
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 26th of February 2025 12:16:14 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 26th of February 2025 12:19:07 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 26th of February 2025 12:20:49 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 26th of February 2025 12:24:55 PM
Sorry to hear about the hotel burning down.
Unfortunately pubs have been losing their appeal for some time, probably beginning with the RBT. Once they were the bastion of young blokes and old buggers. After teenage years other things prevail whilst the old blokes go to the big pub in the sky.
Clubs are more spacious and probably safer and more comfortable for regulars. Also, they are easier when avoiding the local bore.
Alcohol once was affordable in relation to income. Sadly, no longer.
Cupie said
05:05 PM Feb 26, 2025
DMaxer wrote:
Sorry to hear about the hotel burning down. Unfortunately pubs have been losing their appeal for some time, probably beginning with the RBT. Once they were the bastion of young blokes and old buggers. After teenage years other things prevail whilst the old blokes go to the big pub in the sky. Clubs are more spacious and probably safer and more comfortable for regulars. Also, they are easier when avoiding the local bore. Alcohol once was affordable in relation to income. Sadly, no longer.
It certainly was. Or at least seemed to be.
In relation to beer that is. Not so much with wine perhaps.
The Belmont Bear said
12:00 PM Mar 6, 2025
Bolion didnt ring a bell until I saw your photo Cupie and that pub somehow looked familiar. A couple of years ago we were stuck in St George on the way home from a 12 week trip up to the Gulf country We had come down the coast from Cairns and got as far as Gympie when news of the extreme flooding in the NSW Northern Rivers area made us decide it could be a good idea to cross the border further inland - we finally did that out near Cunamulla. Normally we would go via Lightning Ridge or Moree from St George but when we got there all the roads south were under water. The Tourist Info told us that the road between Cunamulla and Bourke was still open so we decided to head out that way. I recall seeing that pub on the way through that town I dont think it was open probably a bit too early in the day. Its disgusting what successive Federal governments are doing with their twice yearly increases in alcohol taxes. Its ironic when politicians want to lecture everyone about high inflation then we find out that the biggest driver for that quarter was the increased taxes they had put on things like alcohol and fuel. The local pub is often the only place that the residents of small country towns get to socialse losing one may be sad for people like us passing through but its a tragedy for those who live in them.
BB
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Thursday 6th of March 2025 12:03:55 PM
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Thursday 6th of March 2025 12:04:32 PM
It may have been under reported as I haven't seen any footage on regular news outlets.
The Bollon Pub and attached Cafe' has been totally destroyed by fire, (7.30 pm Sat 22nd Feb).
It has always been one of our favorite places to spend a few days R & R.
Ill health was the cause for me having to go off beer four years ago.
In many ways I am glad that is so as I believe in some local pubs now it is over $8 for the standard schooner.
Almost impossible for the average bloke going to the pub a few days a week to sustain that.
On top of that the high cost of beef, lamb etc really makes some pubs non-viable in terms of a profit from the kitchen.
I know in NSW the only avenue for some pubs to survive is the pokies.
Throw in high electricity, insurance etc costs and pubs are really going to struggle down the track.
One local publican told me over a beer a few years ago he had 73 electrical appliances in his (small) bar.
He said back then he was losing $1,000 a week in the kitchen and it had a great reputation and was well supported by patrons.
A lot of the local drug dealers used to "wash" their extensive profits through his pokies, and without the bandits in his back room the pub was not a viable proposition.
Regular tax increases probably had an effect on hotel custom & profitability, but successive governments of both complections had ample opportunity to repeal or change that
legislation.
I love Bollon as a place to stop over. Just soo peaceful going for an early morning or a sunset paddle along the milky water of the river and a nice camping spot right in the middle of town. I use several photos of the main street including one with an Emu crossing the road towards the pub as wallpaper on my laptop.
As a youth in the 1960's I spent a lot of time in that area hunting wild pigs and the like. Had many a beer & Amity Rum chaser in that pub .. no problems with underage drinking (or DUI) in those days.
Back in the day, a local Grazier parked a Rolls Royce in a tumble down shed in the main street. When he was going to town he would swap his beat up farm ute for the roller and head off. Wasn't just a rumour 'cause we peaked in the shed and saw it. circa 1965
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 26th of February 2025 12:16:14 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 26th of February 2025 12:19:07 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 26th of February 2025 12:20:49 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 26th of February 2025 12:24:55 PM
It certainly was. Or at least seemed to be.
In relation to beer that is. Not so much with wine perhaps.
Bolion didnt ring a bell until I saw your photo Cupie and that pub somehow looked familiar. A couple of years ago we were stuck in St George on the way home from a 12 week trip up to the Gulf country We had come down the coast from Cairns and got as far as Gympie when news of the extreme flooding in the NSW Northern Rivers area made us decide it could be a good idea to cross the border further inland - we finally did that out near Cunamulla. Normally we would go via Lightning Ridge or Moree from St George but when we got there all the roads south were under water. The Tourist Info told us that the road between Cunamulla and Bourke was still open so we decided to head out that way. I recall seeing that pub on the way through that town I dont think it was open probably a bit too early in the day. Its disgusting what successive Federal governments are doing with their twice yearly increases in alcohol taxes. Its ironic when politicians want to lecture everyone about high inflation then we find out that the biggest driver for that quarter was the increased taxes they had put on things like alcohol and fuel. The local pub is often the only place that the residents of small country towns get to socialse losing one may be sad for people like us passing through but its a tragedy for those who live in them.
BB
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Thursday 6th of March 2025 12:03:55 PM
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Thursday 6th of March 2025 12:04:32 PM