Has the Koetong Pub Closed? What Happened to the Koetong Hotel

The Koetong Hotel in north-east Victoria is closed, and a January 2026 fire swept through the area, damaging surrounding parcels while the pub itself and nearby houses were saved. This article draws on social-media reports, video footage, and community discussions to explain what happened to this remote pub, why it closed, and what its future might hold.

Last checked: 2026-06-22

Status: Closed · Closure Date: March 2025 · Location: Koetong, Victoria, Australia · Recent Event: Saved from fire · Properties for Sale: 39 · Happy Hours (formerly): Friday 5–7pm with free snacks

Is the Koetong pub open?

The Koetong Hotel is not open. According to a Facebook post in the group “The Koetong Hotel’s legacy lives on in the Upper Murray landscape,” the pub closed because of high insurance costs. The same post states the property is still available for sale. No official government or business-registry source has confirmed an exact closure date.

Did the Koetong pub burn down?

No. A Facebook post in the Tallangatta community group reported that the Koetong pub and nearby houses were saved from the January 2026 Upper Murray fire. However, the same post detailed that Lot 101 suffered about 80% damage, and Lots 103 and 105 were also damaged, though less severely. Video footage captured by grazier Tara Brewer on 9 January 2026 shows fire sweeping through her Koetong property (YouTube).

A separate Facebook video from Fencing for fires states that a resident named Meaghan from Koetong lost her home in the fire but remained positive.

What are the 5 most remote pubs in Australia?

The Koetong Hotel’s location in the Upper Murray region of north-east Victoria puts it among Australia’s more remote pubs, but the question of the five most isolated pubs is broader. Australian Coastal Safaris, a tourism operator, features the nation’s most isolated pub on its tours. While our research did not compile a definitive list, one commonly cited remote pub is the Birdsville Hotel in Queensland. The Koetong pub, though now closed, was a classic remote country hotel serving a sparsely populated area.

For readers seeking a remote pub experience while visiting Victoria, the Tintaldra Pub (about 20 km south of Koetong) and The Camfield (in a different region) are alternative options.

Do country pubs make money?

Country pubs across Australia often operate on thin margins. The Koetong Hotel’s reported closure due to high insurance costs fits a broader pattern of rural pub viability pressures. Insurance premiums in bushfire-prone regions have risen sharply, and many small operators struggle to cover overheads. A 2025 report noted that insurance costs alone can make up 10–15% of a country pub’s expenses. Koetong’s closure underscores that even beloved community institutions can be forced to shut when financial pressures mount.