The history of Mena Creek dates right back to the beginning of time, says one bloke sipping bourbon and leaning on the silky oak bar at the village's pub.

“Everyone knows God created Mena Creek first and the rest of the world just filtered off it,” says former jockey Tony Green.

“This is God’s own country, his favourite place and this pub, it’s in the middle of it, that’s why it is so blimmin’ good.”

Irishman Henry Augustine Noone opened the Mena Creek Hotel, then known as the Hotel Mena, on New Year’s Eve 1929 – 15 years after he cleared the local area and set up a camp.

The simple timber structure was destroyed by fire just six years later, rebuilt then gutted by another blaze in the 1950s.

Its then owners, helped by locals keen for a cold beer, reconstructed the classic country pub with large verandas that stands today.

Just metres from iconic Paronella Park, the hotel attracts everyone from tourists, bikies, local banana labourers, families and even stars like Lisa McCune keen to try the extensive menu and relax with a drink.

Once upon a time it was owned by sporting legend Billy Slater’s family and though he has not been seen there for awhile, his uncle often comes for a drink and fills people in with his nephew’s news.

Owners Ian and Michelle Gaffney fell in love with the hotel when they first saw it and despite neither having any experience behind bars, they bought it just over two years ago.

The couple live in the hotel, which features a main bar, upstairs accommodation, beer garden and The Lounge – a room decked out with couches, kids toys, a TV, piano and even a 90-year-old gramophone.

Click here for the 52 Pubs in 52 Weeks Page

“Because we live here we wanted to make it as comfortable as possible for our children and grandchildren,” Michelle says.

“We didn’t want one of those dirty sleazy pubs, it had to be a place children could come and eat with their families, play with the toys and feel comfortable.

“Our granddaughter works behind the bar sometimes, it has a real family atmosphere most of the time, just how we like it.”
Husband Ian says it can be a balancing act with the diverse crowd, but so far they have managed it.

“You turn the juke box down when there are diners and if people get too crazy they get a smack on the wrist,” he laughs.

“Mind you we have just started holding car and bike shows here and last time we had the bikes in the bar doing burnouts – there was smoke everywhere but everyone had a great time– all within the health and safety laws too.”

Horses have also been known to get comfortable in the pub, according to barmaid Zodie Green who has worked there since she was just 13.
“My dad and I rode our horses in here once about seven years ago,” she said.

“We went straight up for a drink at the bar and then the horses got spooked and dirtied the floor a bit so we thought we had better get out of there quick, rode straight out again.

“It was just for a laugh, people are pretty relaxed around here. It is a fun place and you get all sorts from the very top to the
bottom.”

Classic watercolours of native birds share the walls with turtle shells, sporting memorabilia and images of the old timber cutting days, along with newspaper clippings and photos from the annual Mena Creek feral pig cull which last year saw 2.2 tonnes of grunters weighed in at the hotel.

“You definitely get a few characters in here, says Tony, the man who is adamant on the Mena Creek creation theory.
“It’s the Mena Creek water, once you drink it you can’t help coming back to this place.

Share this article