When Jackson MacDonald bought a neglected pub off the beaten track and began extensive renovations on the historic timber building, he was told he wouldn't succeed without poker machines.
He didn't listen, and despite a staggering $60,000 annual insurance bill, the rookie publican is proud to have turned the character-filled Theebine hotel into a drive destination.
Hundreds of people christened its expansive new front deck late last year, weekend trade is thriving, eight rooms upstairs regularly book out, and caravans park up outside.
"A lot of these pubs of this era have all burned to the ground; there's bugger all pubs left like this in Queensland and I've always loved old pubs," Mr MacDonald said.
"It was for sale for a fair while; [I] just decided to buy it and keep it in local hands, save foreigners having to buy it."
The hotel was built 114 years ago, an hour-and-a-half drive north of Queensland's Sunshine Coast, at a time when roads weren't reliable and rail lines ruled.
The brand new Kilkivan Junction Hotel, as it was first named, was "the" place to gather for commerce, conversation, and entertainment.
"Originally, it was just a railway hotel and a railway station opposite," Mr MacDonald said.
"It was opened for business in 1909."
"The cookhouse was eaten out with termites eight years ago, so the kitchen out the back was rebuilt.
"But apart from that the building's still original."
Theebine is tiny; its population numbers 145 according to the 2021 census — down from 182 in 2011.
There are a few original railway worker cottages, houses, and the grand old timber hotel, which was deteriorating until the publican, who made his money in the cattle industry, stepped in to save the local watering hole.
Mr MacDonald moved in at Christmas, 2019, and while he has not revealed how much he paid, he says he invested just as much again into the beautifully crafted building.
"I do love the place," he said.
"You'll never see it sold now — I can promise you that.
"It'll be something that'll be kept in the family."
Sparkling new chandeliers now hang from the hallway and dining room ceilings. The carved timber staircase will soon be stripped back to bare timber and polished.
Locals approve
"I think it's great, just great for the area," born-and-bred local Stuart Vollmerhausen said.
"Travellers from everywhere, they just turn up for lunch on Saturdays.
"It's just a great friendly country pub.
"I think you could travel a long way and not find a little community network like this one."
Wife Lynda says the thriving pub has opened their world.
"The other night there was a couple here from Canada," she said.
"You just get to meet amazing, amazing people — that's what I love about it."
Mr MacDonald has staffed the hotel with 16 local people, as well as investing in murals and artwork.
He said the renovation has reunited his community.
He took heart from seeing elderly locals, who haven't visited for years, regularly arriving to socialise.
"You talk to a lot of operators today and everyone says you can't survive without pokies, but we're proof you can," he said.
"For all these big companies taking over these pubs it's not about alcohol or food anymore.
"It's all about getting pokies in there, which to me is not what a pub should be about."
