On our recent trip to the Betoota Race, we stopped by the iconic Betoota Hotel to gear up for the Friday night rodeo with a couple of ice-cold beers. Situated outside the racetrack, the hotel is the only remaining establishment in Betoota — Australia’s smallest town.
I immediately sensed that this place was special, and it wasn’t long before I struck up a conversation with Robbo, the current owner, about the hotel's rich history. Robbo kept me in awe with stories of the hotel’s many transformations over its 140-year history. I particularly enjoyed hearing about the legendary former owner Sigmund “Ziggy” Remienko. A former Polish prisoner of war, Ziggy was said to have kept a .38 under the bar and changing the price of beer, based on whether he liked you or not.
Robbo invited me to paint a timeline of the hotel’s history on the walls of the dining room, so we extended our stay, and I got to work. Inspired by the photo albums and the many stories shared during our visit, I condensed the timeline into a handful of scenes.
The mural begins in 1885 with the original owners arriving on their billy goats, followed by the first rendition of the establishment serving as a customs post, collecting tolls on livestock moving from State to State. It later transformed into a Cobb & Co station followed by a police station.
Then came Ziggy—from POW to grader operator to publican—and finally, the pub's demise, barbed-wired shut and deemed never to reopen under Ziggy’s wishes, until thankfully, Robbo came along and breathed new life into it.
We loved our stay at the hotel and will miss the beers by the campfire under the stars, Robbo's famous cooking and swapping stories with the hundreds of travelers who pass through while Sienna made a small fortune polishing their boots!
Few places in the Outback leave a lasting impression and make you feel like you are stepping back in time. This place is one of them—add it to your destination list and say g'day to Robbo and the gang for me!
Please share your Betoota Hotel stories!
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