NT pub sale offers chance to commune over a beer with crocs

"IT'S a lifestyle. You won't make a fortune but you'll have a lot of fun," is Stan Haeusler's message to prospective buyers of the Grove Hill Heritage Hotel in the heart of the old Katherine goldfields.

By InvestSMART · 11 Jul 2012

By InvestSMART ·
11 Jul 2012

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Looking out from the beer garden across the railway line you can see his point.

It's an hour and a half's drive from Darwin, then 20 kilometres off the highway to the squat, white, corrugated iron shed that houses the Grove Hill hotel and museum, which goes to auction tomorrow.

In the wet season "you'll get the occasional python or crocodile in here", Mr Haeusler says. "Only the little ones because we're only two kilometres down from Margaret River.

"It's a good licence, six o'clock in the morning 'til two o'clock in the morning, 365 days of the year," Mr Haeusler boasts, although he admits that the last kilometre of dirt road can put the tourists off.

When the pub was built from the scraps of the goldfields in 1935, the local rush was on its deathbed but the Overland Telegraph, the Stuart Highway and the new North Australian Railway line were all on the doorstep.

Telstra has replaced the telegraph, but the resources boom still sends a train a day of iron ore past the door, and the Ghan and freight train drivers toot when they see the lights on.

Grove Hill's isolation is half its charm.

One of the barmaids, Candy, rides her Harley-Davidson out from Darwin to work at the pub. "I just love it here. I've been doing this for about four years."

Free camping and peace and quiet are drawcards, but the collection of museum pieces is what sets Grove Hill apart from regular pubs rusty tools and blacksmith irons, a portrait of Elvis, and a bathtub belonging to Margaret Lucy, the pub's first licensee.

"I bought it at 65 when I should have retired," says Mr Haeusler, now on the edge of actual retirement, but buying Grove Hill was his chance to fulfil the childhood dream of owning a pub.

He and his wife Mary took over in 2000. A two-metre sign, "Under New Management, Stan and Mary" hangs at the front door, declaring the couple's excitement at their arrival 12 years ago.

Returning to Darwin to retire was the couple's next dream, but a week after the pub was listed for auction Mary Haeusler died.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

What is the Grove Hill Heritage Hotel that’s going to auction in the Northern Territory?

Grove Hill is a small heritage pub and museum built in 1935 on the old Katherine goldfields. The corrugated-iron hotel, which was owned and run by Stan and Mary Haeusler since 2000, was scheduled to go to auction and is marketed as a lifestyle property with a strong local character and museum collection.

What are the pub licence hours and how might they affect potential earnings?

According to the current owner, the Grove Hill licence runs from six o’clock in the morning until two in the morning, 365 days a year. That broad trading window gives a buyer lots of flexibility to generate trade, but the owner also cautions it’s more of a lifestyle business than a high-profit operation.

Where is Grove Hill located and what does the remote location mean for investors?

Grove Hill is about an hour and a half’s drive from Darwin and roughly 20 kilometres off the highway, with the last kilometre a dirt road. Its isolation is a selling point for some visitors, but remoteness can limit foot traffic, deter some tourists (especially those put off by rough access) and increase operating logistics and maintenance costs.

What unique assets or features does the Grove Hill pub include that might add value to the sale?

The property doubles as a museum with an eclectic collection—rusty tools, blacksmith irons, a portrait of Elvis and the bathtub of the pub’s first licensee, Margaret Lucy—plus free camping and historic character from its 1935 origins. Those heritage and tourism draws can help differentiate the pub from ordinary hospitality assets.

What types of customers and tourism appeal does the pub attract?

Grove Hill appeals to travellers seeking peace, history and an offbeat stop — free campers, motorbike riders (one barmaid reportedly rides in from Darwin on a Harley), and passing train crews. The novelty of the museum pieces and the pub’s remote charm are key draws rather than high-volume urban trade.

What seasonal or environmental risks should buyers consider when buying a remote NT pub?

The article notes wet-season wildlife can appear near the pub (occasional pythons or small crocodiles), and remote access is more challenging in certain seasons. Buyers should factor in seasonal tourism fluctuations, potential wildlife and access issues when assessing operational risk.

Is buying Grove Hill likely to be a high-return investment or a lifestyle purchase?

The current owner sums it up: 'It's a lifestyle. You won't make a fortune but you'll have a lot of fun.' That suggests Grove Hill is marketed more as a lifestyle business with heritage and tourism appeal than as a fast-growth, high-return commercial investment.

How do regional transport and infrastructure affect the pub’s prospects?

Regional rail traffic still passes the pub—iron ore trains, the Ghan and freight trains—and drivers are known to acknowledge the pub when its lights are on, which can bring occasional custom. Modern telecoms have replaced the old telegraph (Telstra is mentioned as the replacement), but the pub’s long dirt access and remote setting remain the main infrastructure considerations for buyers.