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A Western Australian pub with no beer

Back in August things were looking so promising for the future of the Gascoyne Junction Pub.

After losing their 100-year-old pub in the devastating 2010 floods, the community had rallied around the construction of a new building which includes 24-hour service station facilities and a campground.

Upper Gascoyne Shire CEO Dirk Sellenger thought they'd be throwing open the doors in "two to three weeks". But seven weeks on, the pub is still standing idle.

Inside Gascoyne Junction's new pub
Gascoyne Junction's new pub, complete with a southern cross windmill head from local station, Mooloo Downs


"The liquor license has held us up a little... which is causing some frustration, " Mr Sellenger says.

"We're hoping to receive one in the next week, or month, or at some stage in the near future but at this stage we're not privy to a time frame and that's preventing us from advertising for approved managers."

A spokesman from the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor has confirmed that final submissions from parties in relation to the application were received on September 17th.

The spokesman said the application is "currently in the final stages of determination and a decision is expected to be finalised before the end of the month."

Gascoyne Junction's new pub needs a liquor license
The new Gascoyne Junction pub is waiting to find out if it'll be granted a liquor license


That's good news for the Gascoyne Junction community but Mr Sellenger says it doesn't guarantee the pub will be able operate.

"From now they will make a decision as to, first of all, whether we receive a liquor license - which we are very hopeful to receive seeing as though we have built a pub!

"And secondly, as to what type of liquor license and what restrictions or conditions may be subject with that."

Hundred-year old green bottles from the original pub
Hundred-year old green bottles from the original Gascoyne Pub

 

 

Source: ABC News, 16 October 2013