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submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by FireWire400@lemmy.world to c/australia@aussie.zone

Super cool location, felt pretty unreal actually being there... shame you can't go inside any more

Edit: Seems like they made a new website for it! I hope they can turn it around somehow

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[-] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 3 points 2 months ago

Unsure if you know but we had one in Queensland up the Sunny coast. Next to the motorway. I think that's gone.

[-] pmarksen@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

It is gone. Absolute monstrosity now.

Street view image.

[-] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 1 points 2 months ago

Oh God. I've driven past the place since the other one went ( a fair few years I think ) I must say I don't think I've seen that thing. How long has that been there ?

[-] pmarksen@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Years. Not sure how many but a lot.

Edit: this website says 2019.

https://thebananabenderpub.com/about/

[-] FireWire400@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I'm kinda aware that there were 4 Ettamogah Pubs in total, but I don't know where and I can't find anything about the other ones

Edit: Seems like the only one that's still in operation as Ettamogah Pub is the one in Cunderdin, WA.

As I've mentioned elsewhere the one in Albury seems to have been renamed.... Looks like I need to go to Cunderdin lol

[-] Nath@aussie.zone 1 points 2 months ago

Perth also had one, but it closed down 20 years ago. Two businesses have since occupied the building, but both have died.

You can see how the building would have looked with the angular awnings etc. but they were made boring after the Ettamogah closed down.

[-] N0t_5ure@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

I've been there, back in the mid 1990s.

[-] FireWire400@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

It must've been amazing back then. My relatives kept telling me how popular it was with tourists.

[-] N0t_5ure@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

I don't have much recollection of the pub, though I do have a picture of it. I was doing the "Oz Experience" bus tour, so naturally they hit all the tourist spots. It was a great trip.

[-] FireWire400@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

I'd love seeing that picture, if you wanna show it

[-] N0t_5ure@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

I found it. The pic was taken in 1995. It was a film print and I don't currently have access to a scanner, so I snapped a pic with my phone (sorry about the quality). I think I took the pic because the amusing words on the side struck me as very Australian, and I'm sure I was probably told of its significance.

[-] FireWire400@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

I actually don't know the significance of the words, must be in reference to the Ettamogah Pub comic strip that inspired the building. But you're right, it's kinda amusing how Aussie it is; I couldn't help but chuckle when first reading it^^

Thanks heaps for sharing!

[-] N0t_5ure@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

I'll see if I can dig it up.

[-] CEOofmyhouse56@aussie.zone 3 points 2 months ago

Went there during a school camp in 1988. I remember there being a huge cage with cockies inside. Signs on the dunny doors read "Blokes" and "Sheilas".

[-] FireWire400@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

They still had them when I was there!

[-] FireWire400@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Mhhh... Looked up some reviews on Google and the owner's responses are either hopeful that they can return the place to its former glory, blaming the previous owners for its current state, dismissive of any criticism or completely unhinged...

As I've mentioned, you can't actually go inside anymore, they closed down the souvenir shop and the website refers to the place as "Table Top Hotel (Formally Ettamogah)" The only thing that's open there is a café next to the actual pub.

I hope they won't close it down or anything, it needs to be preserved in some way IMO...

this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2025
35 points (100.0% liked)

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