Anakie Gemfields hotel closes

There’s a big change in Queensland with the closure of the century old Anakie Gemfields Hotel.

The hotel has been operating in the Gemfields for over 116 years.

The pub’s owners Wendy and Bruce McFarlane said close the doors last Friday was a difficult decision.

"As you know it has operated for over 100 years, so it was not an easy decision,” Mrs McFarlane told CQ (Central Queensland) News.

"Nobody likes to fail but declining population in the area, rising costs such as licence fees, insurance, the cost of electricity and cartage of supplies has meant as a pub it is not viable to run as a business where we could not operate it ourselves,”

They conceded it would have an impact on the community.

"Locals will be disappointed, but generally resigned that it was a struggle to continue,” Mrs McFarlane told CQ News.

"As a mum and dad business it could open on Sundays and Public Holidays using family and survive, but not under management.”

The hotel has quite a history.

Built in 1902, the year the Anakie Sapphire Fields were officially proclaimed a mining area, the pub grew to meet the demands of miners over the next 30 years with the growth of the three settlements of the Gemfields - Anakie, Sapphire and Rubyvale.

Miners were pouring into the area because prices were high.

However, the population of the areas has declined and fewer visitors are coming in.

The McFarlanes were hoping to bring the once thriving hotel back to life when they bought it three years ago but a face lift to the front of the building didn’t have the effect they had hoped for.

Mr McFarlane said the pub tends to be in a mobile black spot so it was hard to attract people travelling on the highway.

The couple haven’t given up hope. They own the new Royal Hotel at Rubyvale so they will continue to look at future options of the Anakie Hotel next season.

Leon Gettler - 23/8/18