Betoota Hotel Mural

The Betoota Hotel sits just outside the racetrack in Betoota, Queensland — officially Australia’s smallest town. On our recent trip to the Betoota Races, we stopped in for a beer and quickly found ourselves immersed in outback history, legendary characters, and the kind of storytelling only found in a true Australian outback pub. What started as a quick stop became an unforgettable stay, and a deeper look into one of Australia’s most iconic remote hotels.

On our recent trip to the Betoota Races, we pulled up at the iconic Betoota Hotel to fuel up for the Friday night rodeo with a couple of ice-cold beers. Sitting just outside the racetrack, the pub is the only remaining building in Betoota — officially Australia’s smallest town.

I knew straight away this place was special. It didn’t take long before I found myself deep in conversation with Robbo, the current owner, soaking up stories of the hotel’s colourful past. Over its 140-year history, the pub has worn many hats, and Robbo brought each chapter to life with the kind of storytelling you only get out here.

One of my favourite tales was about the legendary former owner Sigmund “Ziggy” Remienko. A former Polish prisoner of war, Ziggy was known for keeping a .38 under the bar and charging different prices for beer depending on whether he liked you or not. Fair to say, he ran the pub his way.

During our stay, Robbo invited me to paint a timeline of the hotel’s history on the dining room walls. We happily extended our time, and I got to work. Using old photo albums and the many stories shared over beers, I distilled the pub’s long and wild history into a handful of scenes.

The mural begins in 1885, with the original owners arriving by billy goat. From there, the building morphs through time — first a customs post collecting tolls on livestock crossing state lines, then a Cobb & Co station, followed by a police station.

Then comes Ziggy — from POW to grader operator to publican — and finally, the pub’s closure. Barbed wire wrapped around the doors, sealed shut under Ziggy’s instructions, never to reopen. Until, thankfully, Robbo came along and breathed new life back into the place.

We loved every minute of our stay. Beers by the campfire under the stars, Robbo’s legendary cooking, and swapping stories with the hundreds of travellers passing through. Meanwhile, Sienna managed to make herself a small fortune polishing boots.

There are few places in the outback that leave a lasting impression — places that make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. The Betoota Hotel is one of them. Add it to your list, and be sure to say g’day to Robbo and the crew for me.

And if you’ve got a Betoota Hotel story of your own — I’d love to hear it.

Words by Jacob Butler 

Photos by Ange Butler