The Tingoora Hotel, known locally as the Tinny Pub, has reportedly anchored the small Queensland town of Tingoora since the early 1900s. A single-storey timber building with a hipped corrugated-iron roof on the Bunya Highway, it is recognised by the South Burnett Regional Council as the first commercial and public building in the settlement and the second-oldest surviving hotel in the entire local government area (South Burnett Regional Council heritage record). This article draws on official heritage assessments, local news reporting and venue listings to give you a clear picture of the pub’s history, amenities and place on the Queensland Country Pub Tasting Trail.
Last checked: 2026-10-23
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How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-10-23.
Sources reviewed: local government heritage record, regional tourism website, local news articles, pub directory listings, business directory archive.
No on-site visit, no staff interview and no independent verification of current trading hours or menu were conducted. Many directory listings may be stale; current status should be confirmed directly with the venue.
Tingoora Hotel at a glance
- First commercial and public building in the settlement of Tingoora (built 1907) – South Burnett Regional Council
- The Tinny Pub – South Burnett Online
- Second earliest extant hotel in the South Burnett LGA (after Wondai Hotel) – South Burnett Regional Council
History and Heritage of the Tingoora Hotel
The development of the Tingoora Hotel is tied directly to the extension of the Kilkivan branch railway to Kingaroy in 1904, which spurred settlement along the line (council heritage record). A store followed in 1908, and a school and railway station appeared later. The district supported mixed farming, including maize and dairying.
According to the council’s heritage place card, the Tingoora Hotel was the first commercial and public building erected in the settlement, with a construction date of 1907. Some tourism and directory sources cite 1900 or July 1900 as the establishment date, but the official heritage record – the strongest available source – points to 1907. This discrepancy is worth noting: the building may have begun operation earlier than the council’s documented construction year.
A second hotel was built in Tingoora in 1911, but it was destroyed by fire in 1937. The Tingoora Public Hall was erected in 1933 (council record).
A historical pub listing (Gday Pubs) states that the hotel changed ownership in 1939 when Herb Night won it in a card game. This account is not independently corroborated in available sources and should be treated as unverified local lore (Gday Pubs).
Recent Ownership and Operational History
In 2003, Dan and Wayne Kratzmann acquired the hotel and undertook major renovations. A drive-through bottle shop was added in 2006 (Suth Burnett Online). The venue was put up for auction in June 2010, and while bidding reached A$1 million, the property was passed in. Shortly after, Bruce Jones, Jenny Jones and Barbara Camp purchased the hotel (Suth Burnett Business Directory). The new owners planned to retain regular Friday-night live entertainment and considered adding motel units, though it is unclear whether those units were ever built.
In April 2013, South Burnett Online reported that the controlling company, Lodgefern Pty Ltd, faced a winding-up application and that a manager would take over operations. The outcome of that proceeding is not documented in the available research. Since 2013, no reliable public record confirms the current ownership or trading status of the Tingoora Hotel.
The hotel’s operating status today is uncertain. Directory listings appear on platforms such as Zest and Localsearch, but their information has not been independently verified. Any plans to visit should be preceded by a phone call to 07 41685150 (the number listed on Localsearch) to confirm hours and services.
What the Venue Has Offered
Historical listings from Gday Pubs and South Burnett Business Directory describe the Tingoora Hotel as having a restaurant serving lunch and dinner seven days a week, a bar, a dining room, live entertainment (including a reported Jimmy Barnes concert at the local sports ground that allegedly drew nearly 3,000 people), a courtesy bus, a pool table and a jukebox (Gday Pubs; Suth Burnett Online). More recent listing on Zest claims a bar, dining room, outdoor deck and drive-through bottleshop with a menu of fish and chips, steaks, pizzas, burgers, bangers and mash, and desserts – but these details are unaudited and may be outdated.
“The Tingoora Hotel is important in demonstrating the evolution of the region’s history as the first commercial and public building in the settlement of Tingoora.”
— South Burnett Regional Council, heritage place card
Visit South Burnett promotes the pub as a stop on the South Burnett Rail Trail area, which runs through Tingoora and nearby towns (Visit South Burnett). That rail trail is a recreation asset that may bring visitor traffic to the hotel, but direct confirmation of the pub’s current involvement is needed.
Location and Context on the Bunya Highway
The Tingoora Hotel sits on High Street, which is the Bunya Highway frontage through the town (council heritage record). Tourist listings place the town about 22 kilometres north of Kingaroy on the Bunya Highway (Publocation). The name “Tingoora” is reported by tourism sources to derive from a Wakka Wakka word referring to the wattle tree.
“The town’s name derives from a Wakka Wakka word associated with the wattle tree.”
— Visit South Burnett
The railway line that facilitated the town’s growth (the Kikivan branch railway to Kingaroy in 1904) is now part of the South Burnett Rail Trail, a popular cycling and walking route. The hotel’s location on the highway makes it a natural stop for travellers between Newcastle and the coastal towns, but current roadhouse-level services such as fuel or takeaway food are not confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tingoora Hotel also known as?
The venue is commonly referred to as the Tinny Pub (South Burnett Online).
When was the Tingoora Hotel built?
The South Burnett Regional Council heritage record states the hotel was constructed in 1907, making it the first commercial building in the settlement. Some other sources list 1900, but the council’s document is the most authoritative available.
Does the hotel have a drive-through bottleshop?
A drive-through bottleshop was added in 2006 (South Burnett Online). Its current operation is not independently verified.
What food does the Tingoora Hotel serve?
Historical listings mention pub classics such as steaks, burgers, fish and chips, pizzas, and bangers and mash. Current availability should be confirmed with the venue.
Where is the Tingoora Hotel located?
On High Street (the Bunya Highway) in Tingoora, Queensland, about 22 km north of Kingaroy (Publocation).
What is the South Burnett Rail Trail?
A cycling and walking trail that follows the old Kilkivan branch railway line through the South Burnett region. The Tingoora Hotel is presented as a stop on this trail (Visit South Burnett).
Sources cited
- South Burnett Regional Council – Local heritage place cards (Tier 1)
- South Burnett Online – “Tinny Hotal in Liquidation” (Tier 2)
- South Burnett Business Directory – 2010 ownership report (Tier 3)
- Gday Pubs – Tingoora Hotel listing (Tier 3)
- Publocation – Tingoora Hotel (Tier 3)
- Visit South Burnett – Tingoora, Memerambi, Wooroolin (Tier 1)
- Zest – Tingoora Hotel listing (Tier 3)
- Localsearch – Nanango pubs (Tier 2)
- Wikipedia – Tingoora (Tier 3)