His first for the day: Commercial Hotel, Hebel

Hebel Hotel, Hebel, Queensland, 2020. Picture: Alexander Carter, Hebel Hotel Facebook Page.

IN the early 1970s, writer, John Larkins and photographer, Bruce Howard went on a 40,000km pub crawl around Australia, telling their wives, “Don’t wait up!” With Larkins wonderful words, and Howards’ fabulous photos, they chronicled an amazing snap shot of Australian pub culture. From that expedition they had published “Australian Pubs”. This is an excerpts from the now out of print book when the pair visited the Commercial Hotel, Hebel, Queensland.

His first for the day, Hebel. Picture: Bruce Howard.

ONCE there were three things in Hebel, Queensland (not counting the dust).

There was the Commercial Hotel (HEBEL’S LEADING HOTEL, says the sign outside), there was the store, and there was a pile of empty bottles which rivalled the pyramids of Egypt in size. Why, it was said that on a sunny day you could see them a-glittering from the Pacific coast, 350 miles east.

But one day the council made them bury the bottles.

And now there are only two things in Hebel (not counting the dust).

Hebel Hotel, Hebel, Queensland. Picture: Josh Arnold, Hebel Hotel Facebook Page. 

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Categories: Queensland hotels

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