Trouble hits historic Top End pub in final hour

The Top End's historic Grove Hill Hotel and Museum will today go to auction as publican Stan Hausler retires, marking the end of an era for the remote railway pub.

Stan Hausler and wife Mary preserved the remains of what was once a gold rush town South of Darwin through the Grove Hill Hotel and Museum.

The pub uses recycled relics from the mining era, with its base the only remaining concrete slab from the original gold rush town.

But as the pub goes to auction tomorrow, Stan faces a new challenge, having only just learnt he does not have title to the property because of an administrative mix-up he was unaware of.

"Apparently the Government changed the law six years ago," Mr Hausler said.

"We had a lease - it used to be a garden lease then they changed it to a holding lease, then they wanted to change it to a mining lease. Now we're looking at freehold," he said, adding that he was in 'no-mans-land'.

Mr Hausler fears the pub won't sell without a title, and it is not currently under any lease arrangement.

The auction will go ahead at 11am tomorrow morning in the hope a keen buyer will still place a good bid.

He said he would be sad to leave after 12 years of good times, serving wandering tourists and the local community.

The Department of Resources says Stan Hausler can apply for the title to be transferred to him under a mining title.

Source: ABC News, 11 July 2012