Take a tour of ‘The Gully’

Liv Gardiner

4 years ago

Located in the Shire of Balonne in southwest Queensland, Nindigully is home to just nine locals. The name ‘Nindigully’ originated from the combination of an Aboriginal word, ‘nindi’ meaning small, and the English word ‘gully’. Film fans may recognise Nindigully as the set of Hugh Jackman’s 1999 film, Paperback Hero.

Positioned on the banks of the Moonie River, the Nindigully Pub, known as ‘The Gully’, is Queensland’s oldest pub. Its licence was issued in 1864, back when the hotel was operating as shearer’s accommodation for the nearby Nindigully Station. Today it attracts thousands of travellers and locals alike, offering cold beers and hot meals.

Local farm hand Troy Shields takes us on a tour of the farm and pub. “It’s not really a town, but good people come together here … all the locals and travellers,” Mr Shields told St George and Surrounds. “The pub gets busy with grey nomads during winter, so it makes for some good stories with people from all over the country.”

Between working long hours, dirt bike riding through thousands of acres of bush and having a beer with mates at the pub, Mr Shields thinks he’s found his own slice of paradise. “I’ve decided to give up chasing the pot at the end of the rainbow, and just be happy staying here for the rest of my life.”

Have you ever dreamed of escaping to the outback? Would you have a beer at ‘The Gully’ on your next toad trip?

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